AD-MSC-conditioned medium alters NAMPT/sirtuin-related responses in HeLa cells

In a laboratory study of human cervical cancer cells, conditioned medium from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells reduced the viability of HeLa cells. The effect was accompanied by a higher apoptotic cell fraction and changes in two sirtuin-related transcripts under one tested condition. At 20% conditioned medium, SIRT2 messenger RNA decreased and SIRT7 messenger RNA increased, while SIRT1 and NAMPT messenger RNA did not differ significantly from comparison groups.

The experiment therefore identifies an association between the conditioned-medium response and altered sirtuin-related gene expression, but it does not establish a causal pathway or identify the responsible components of the medium. The researchers prepared conditioned medium from previously isolated, characterized and cryopreserved human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, abbreviated AD-MSCs. According to the study background, these cells release soluble factors and extracellular-vesicle cargo that can alter tumor-cell behavior.

The conditioned medium was applied to HeLa cells at concentrations ranging from 10% to 100% for 48 hours. Cell viability was assessed with an MTT assay. Based on the concentration-response results, the researchers estimated an inhibitory concentration of 50%, or IC50, at 38.99% conditioned medium.

Thus, the reported cell-based finding was a reduction in HeLa-cell viability under the conditions tested rather than evidence of a clinical effect. The 20% and 60% conditioned-medium conditions were selected for additional analysis. Annexin V and propidium iodide flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptotic cells, while quantitative reverse-transcription PCR measured NAMPT, SIRT1, SIRT2 and SIRT7 transcripts relative to GAPDH.

The 20% condition produced an increased apoptotic cell fraction. The response to 60% conditioned medium was not statistically significant. SIRT1 did not differ significantly from the comparison groups, with p = 0.6286, and neither did NAMPT, with p = 0.3277.

These results show changes in transcript abundance under the tested conditions; they do not demonstrate corresponding changes in protein abundance, sirtuin enzyme activity or pathway flux. The findings are limited to an in-vitro experiment involving one cell line and a 48-hour exposure. HeLa cells were evaluated in culture, so the results do not show that AD-MSC-conditioned medium can treat cervical cancer in people or predict how cells from other tumors, different tissue environments or patients would respond.

The conditioned medium may contain multiple soluble factors and extracellular-vesicle components, but the study did not determine which constituents were responsible for the observed response. Confirmation at the protein and enzyme-activity levels, together with direct testing of candidate medium components and examination of downstream signaling, would be required before a mechanistic or causal interpretation could be made. Under the reported conditions, the supported conclusion is that AD-MSC-conditioned medium reduced HeLa-cell viability, increased apoptosis most clearly at 20% conditioned medium, and coincided with lower SIRT2 and higher SIRT7 transcript levels; the molecular mechanism and any clinical relevance remain unestablished.

Subject of Research: Effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem-cell-conditioned medium on HeLa-cell viability, apoptosis and NAMPT/sirtuin-related gene expression

Article Title: Modulation of the NAMPT/SIRT axis in HeLa cells exposed to adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium

Article References: Roozbehani, M., Vafaei, S., Keyvani, H., Faraji, F., Tasbihi, M., & Masoori, L. (2026). Modulation of the NAMPT/SIRT axis in HeLa cells exposed to adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium. Molecular Biology Reports, 53(1), Article 1780. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-12873-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s11033-026-12873-w

Keywords: AD-MSC-conditioned medium, HeLa cells, cervical cancer cells, cell viability, apoptosis, NAMPT, SIRT2, SIRT7, sirtuin signaling, cell culture, Modulation, SIRT