Hypoxia-mimetic agents are new potential tools in MSC priming instead of
hypoxia incubators or chambers. Several
pharmaceutical/chemical
hypoxia-mimetic agents can be used to induce
hypoxia in the tissues:
deferoxamine (DFO), dimethyloxaloylglycine (DMOG),
2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP),
cobalt chloride (CoCl2), and
isoflurane (ISO).
Hypoxia-mimetic agents can increase cell proliferation, preserve or enhance differentiation potential, increase migration potential, and induce neovascularization in a concentration- and stem cell source-dependent manner. Moreover,
hypoxia-mimetic agents may increase HIF-1α, changing the metabolism and enhancing glycolysis like
hypoxia. So, there is clear evidence that treatment with
hypoxia-mimetic agents is beneficial in regenerative medicine, preserving stem cell capacities. These agents are not studied so wildly as
hypoxia but, considering the low cost and ease of use, are believed to find application as pretreatment of many diseases such as
ischemic heart disease and myocardial
fibrosis and promote cardiac and cartilage regeneration. The knowledge of MSC priming is critical in evaluating safety procedures and use in clinics. In this review, similarities and differences between
hypoxia and
hypoxia-mimetic agents in terms of their therapeutic efficiency are considered in detail. The advantages, challenges, and future perspectives in MSC priming with
hypoxia mimetic agents are also discussed.