What happens When Methamphetamine Is Added to Nutrients of Culture Medium: In Vitro Effects on Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis of Human Fibroblast Cells

Background: Methamphetamine use can provide a quick and pleasurable rush, increased energy, heightened attention, and euphoria, but may also result in many adverse effects. Various cell lines have been utilized in vitro to determine the adverse impacts of methamphetamine on those cells. As enough data are not available on the effect of methamphetamine on skin fibroblast cells, this study determined its in vitro effect on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of human skin fibroblast cells.Methods: Phenotypic characteristics of fibroblasts cells were determined and real-time PCR examined the expression of matrix metalloproteinase1 (MMP1), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), integrin alpha 11 (ITGA11), CD106, CD10, and CD26 markers. MTT assay checked the toxicity of recreational doses of 6 and 60 μM of methamphetamine. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assessed expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and PPARγ genes.Results: Fibroblast cells were morphologically spindle-shape and were positive for fibroblast markers of CD10, CD26, MMP1 and MMP3 and negative for mesenchymal markers of ITGA11 and CD106. MTT assay revealed a decline in proliferation of fibroblast cells when they were exposed to methamphetamine. The expression of Bax and PPARγ genes increased and decreased for Bcl-2 gene after exposure of cells to methamphetamine.Conclusion: Our results confirmed adverse effects of methamphetamine on proliferation, viability and differentiation of skin fibroblast cells revealing a reduction in cell proliferation and differentiation as well as an increase in cell apoptosis. These findings can open a window to health status of people who target methamphetamine use for recreational purposes.