A study published by In Vivo reports that cannabidiol (CBD) may help delay cellular aging in mesenchymal stem cells, potentially improving their usefulness in regenerative medicine.
The research was conducted by scientists from Suranaree University of Technology and Thammasat University in Thailand and focused on whether CBD could preserve stem cell function during prolonged laboratory cultivation.
Mesenchymal stem cells are widely studied for their ability to repair and regenerate damaged tissues, but their clinical value declines as they age during repeated cell divisions. As the authors note, “their therapeutic potential is limited by cellular aging during in vitro cultivation,” which leads to a loss of stemness and reduced suitability for clinical use. To address this problem, the researchers examined whether cannabidiol could delay this aging process by enhancing “the expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and autophagy, two key anti-aging regulators.”
In laboratory experiments, low concentrations of CBD were added to cultured mesenchymal stem cells. The study found that “CBD significantly increased the expression of SIRT1 and autophagy-related markers in MSCs,” while also supporting mechanisms tied to longevity and cellular maintenance. According to the authors, CBD “preserved MSC stemness by promoting the deacetylation of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) through SIRT1” and delayed aging by “enhancing autophagy, reducing senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, maintaining proliferation capacity, and supporting telomere function.”
Cells treated with CBD maintained stronger stem cell characteristics, including higher expression of stemness-associated genes such as SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG. The researchers also observed improvements in key aging indicators, including shorter doubling times, better preservation of telomere length, and increased telomerase expression at critical passages during cell culture.
In their conclusion, the authors state that “CBD promotes MSC stemness and delays cellular senescence, potentially through the activation of SIRT1 and autophagy.” While they acknowledge that prolonged culturing ultimately leads to aging, they suggest these findings indicate CBD “may serve as a promising agent for preserving MSC function in regenerative medicine.”
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