KAT6A regulates stemness of aging bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells through Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the effect of KAT6A on the decreased stemness of aging bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and its potential mechanism. METHODS: The acetylation level and KAT6A expression of BMSCs from the young (YBMSCs) and the old (OBMSCs) were examined. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed to determine the effect of KAT6A on BMSC proliferation, colony formation, and osteogenic differentiation. The effect of KAT6A on Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway was investigated after KAT6A inhibition in YBMSCs or overexpression in OBMSCs, and the role of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway on stemness was examined by investigating proliferation, colony formation, and osteogenic differentiation. Further in vivo study was performed to explore osteogenesis ability of OBMSCs after modulation of KAT6A and Nrf2/ARE pathway through cell sheet technology. RESULTS: The acetylation level and KAT6A expression of OBMSCs were decreased, and KAT6A downregulation resulted in decreased proliferation, colony formation, and osteogenic differentiation of OBMSCs. Mechanically, KAT6A was found to regulate Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and inhibit ROS accumulation in OBMSCs, thus promoting proliferation, colony formation, and osteogenic differentiation of OBMSCs. Further study demonstrated that KAT6A could promote osteogenesis of OBMSCs by regulating Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of KAT6A resulted in the decreased stemness of OBMSCs by inhibiting the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: KAT6A was downregulated in aging bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and downregulation of KAT6A resulted in Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway inhibition and ROS accumulation, thus leading to decreased stemness of aging BMSCs. [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02164-5.