Cytoprotective effect of microencapsulated Vaccinium floribundum Kunth on porcine vascular wall mesenchymal stem cells under serum deprivation conditions.

Vascular Wall Mesenchymal Stem Cells (VW-MSC) are vascular-resident stem cells with multipotent differentiation ability, contributing to vascular homeostasis and repair. Their secretome, including growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles, mediates paracrine effects on angiogenesis, immunity, and tissue regeneration. Given the pivotal role of VW-MSC in vascular repair and their sensitivity to environmental stressors, bioactive plant-derived compounds have emerged as promising modulators of their survival and regenerative potential. In the present study, we investigated the protective potential of microencapsulated extract of Vaccinium floribundum Kunth (VFM) berries on porcine VW-MSC exposed to serum deprivation induced cytotoxicity. Our results demonstrated that VFM extract did not alter pVW-MSC morphology but enhanced cell viability. Serum deprivation induced loss of cell adhesion, cell rounding, membrane blebbing, and reduced pVW-MSC viability by ~50%, whereas VFM treatment restored normal morphology and viability. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant decrease in caspase-3 expression, suggesting a possible attenuation of apoptosis. No significant changes in BAX, BCL2l1 or TP53 were detected. These effects are consistent with VFM bioactive compounds previously associated with cytoprotective and antioxidant activities in a model of porcine Aortic Endothelial Cells. Collectively, our results suggest that VFM supports pVW-MSC survival under stress conditions by modulating apoptosis and highlight its potential as a protective agent for stem cell-based regenerative and cardiovascular applications.