Human Umbilical Cord-Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSCs) Lysate Suppresses The Growth Of Cervical Cancer (HeLa Cells) In Vitro

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), especially those derived from the umbilical cord (UC-MSCs), have emerged as promising candidates for cancer therapy due to their immunomodulatory and anti-tumour properties. However, the mechanisms through which UC-MSCs affect cervical cancer cells remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of UC-MSCs on HeLa cervical cancer cells, focusing on cytoskeletal alterations and apoptosis-related pathways. Methods: HeLa cells were co-cultured with UC-MSCs at varying concentrations (5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%). Doxorubicin (3 ppm) was used as a positive control, and untreated HeLa cells served as the negative control. Apoptosis markers (caspase-3 and caspase-8) were analysed using immunocytochemistry (ICC), while DAPI/phalloidin staining was used to observe cytoskeletal changes. Levels of cytokines (CCL2 and TGF-α) were measured using ELISA. Results: Activation of caspase-3 was observed at 5% UC-MSC concentration, indicating the induction of apoptosis. However, higher UC-MSC concentrations (10–30%) led to a decrease in HeLa cell viability without caspase-3 or caspase-8 activation, suggesting alternative cell death pathways such as necrosis or autophagy. No caspase-8 activation was observed across all treatments, indicating resistance to extrinsic apoptosis, possibly due to the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins like c-FLIP. ELISA analysis showed no significant changes in CCL2 and TGF-α levels. Conclusion: UC-MSCs can induce HeLa cell death via caspase-independent mechanisms, particularly at higher concentrations. The selective activation of caspase-3 at low concentrations highlights the complex interaction between UC-MSCs and cervical cancer cells. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of MSC-based cancer therapy and offer insights for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.