Climate change, particularly temperature and humidity fluctuations, can affect society and biological systems. This study specifically investigates the impact of these two key aspects of climate change on adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) as a pilot study and starting point for further examinations into the biological effects of climate change-associated conditions.

One-month-old male rats were kept for 4 months (equal to a 10-year climatic period) in 4 groups and exposed to conditions based on climatic data from Tehran's synoptic stations. Rats in the control group were exposed to conditions based on climatic data from 1991, and groups 2-4 were exposed to conditions based on climatic data from 1991-2000, 2001-2010, and 2011-2020, respectively. Monthly temperature, humidity, and day/night cycle averages were selected for animal exposure. After exposure, fat-derived stem cells were taken from each rat, and MTT, ROS, Ki-67, caspase-3, and apoptosis tests were performed.

From 1991 to 2020, Tehran experienced an average temperature increase of 1.5 °C and a 15% decrease in average humidity, conditions which when replicated in rodent models contributed to increased rates of ROS and caspase-3 expression, a reduction in Ki-67 antigen expression and in the duration of the life of cells, and an increase in the rate of apoptosis, such that apoptosis in ADSCs reached 25.51%.

The study demonstrates that environmental conditions similar to those from climate change affected ADSCs significantly and emphasized the need for further research to understand their impact on health.