Equine Muscle Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Loaded with Water-Soluble Curcumin: Modulation of Neutrophil Activation and Enhanced Protection against Intracellular Oxidative Attack

We investigated the antioxidant potential of equine mesenchymal stem cells derived from muscle microbiopsies (mdMSCs), loaded by a water-soluble curcumin lysinate incorporated into hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (NDS27). The cell loading was rapid and dependent on NDS27 dosage (14, 7, 3.5 and 1 µM). The immunomodulatory capacity of loaded mdMSCs was evaluated by ROS production, on active and total myeloperoxidase (MPO) degranulation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation after neutrophil stimulation. The intracellular protection of loaded cells was tested by an oxidative stress induced by cumene hydroperoxide. Results showed that 10 min of mdMSC loading with NDS27 did not affect their viability while reducing their metabolism. NDS27 loaded cells in presence of 14, 7 µM NDS27 inhibited more intensively the ROS production, the activity of the MPO released and bound to the NET after neutrophil stimulation. Furthermore, loaded cells powerfully inhibited intracellular ROS production induced by cumene as compared to control cells or cyclodextrin-loaded cells. Our results showed that the loading of mdMSCs with NDS27 significantly improved their antioxidant potential against the oxidative burst of neutrophil and protected them against intracellular ROS production. The improved antioxidant protective capacity of loaded mdMSCs could be applied to target inflammatory foci involving neutrophils.