ROLE OF P38 MAP-KINASE IN THE STRESS-INDUCED SENESCENCE PROGRESSION OF HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS
Our recent findings clearly demonstrate that human endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMESCs) respond to the sublethal oxidative stress by the premature senescence induction via ATM/Chk2/p53/ p21/Rb pathway. Furthermore, based on the application of the SB203580 (SB) we suggested p38 MAP-kinase involvement in senescence progression. However, there are several disadvantages concerning this inhibitor: 1) using SB would not be suitable for in vivo experiments due to toxicity issue; 2) the poor kinase selectivity profile of SB complicates interpretation of the obtained data. Here, in order to confirm the implication of p38 in the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced senescence of hMESCs, we applied another highly specific inhibitor of p38 - BIRB796 (BIRB). In presence of BIRB we revealed cell size decrease, reduction in the levels of reactive oxygen species, partial restoration of proliferation and increase in Rb phosphorylation levels in comparison to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-treated hMESCs. Summarizing the obtained results we can postulate p38 implication in H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced senescence of hMESCs, and suggest p38 inhibition as a promising approach in prevention of premature senescence.