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Mesenchymal stem cells regulate the Th17/Treg cell balance partly through hepatocyte growth factor in vitro.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert immunomodulatory functions by inducing the development and differentiation of naive T cells into T cells with an anti-inflammatory regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype. Our previous study showed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secreted by MSCs had immunomodulatory effects in the context of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. We hypothesized that HGF is a key factor in the MSC-mediated regulation of the T helper 17 (Th17) cell/regulatory T (Treg) cell balance.

Methods

We investigated the effects of MSCs on the differentiation of CD4+ T cells and the functions of Th17/Treg cells in response to LPS stimulation by performing in vitro coculture experiments. MSCs were added to the upper chambers of cell culture inserts, and CD4+ T cells were plated in the lower chambers, followed by treatment with LPS or an anti-HGF antibody. Th17 (CD4+CD3+RORrt+) and Treg (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+) cell frequencies were analysed by flow cytometry, and the expression of Th17 cell- and Treg cell-related cytokines in the CD4+ T cells or culture medium was measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Neutrophil functions were determined by flow cytometry after a coculture with Th17/Treg cells.

Results

The percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells was significantly increased in the CD4+ T cell population, while the percentage of CD4+CD3+RORrt+ cells was significantly decreased after MSC coculture. However, the MSC-induced effect was significantly inhibited by the anti-HGF antibody (p < 0.05). Furthermore, MSCs significantly inhibited the CD4+ T cell expression of IL-17 and IL-6 but increased the expression of IL-10 (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01); these effects were inhibited by the anti-HGF antibody (p < 0.05). In addition, CD4+ T cells cocultured with MSCs significantly inhibited neutrophil phagocytic and oxidative burst activities (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01); however, these MSC-induced effects were inhibited by the anti-HGF antibody (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These data suggested that MSCs induced the conversion of fully differentiated Th17 cells into functional Treg cells and thereby modulated the Th17/Treg cell balance in the CD4+ T cell population, which was partly attributed to HGF secreted by the MSCs.

SUBMITTER: Chen QH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7049226 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mesenchymal stem cells regulate the Th17/Treg cell balance partly through hepatocyte growth factor in vitro.

Chen Qi-Hong QH Wu Fei F Liu Lei L Chen Han-Bing HB Zheng Rui-Qiang RQ Wang Hua-Ling HL Yu Li-Na LN

Stem cell research & therapy 20200228 1

<h4>Introduction</h4>Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert immunomodulatory functions by inducing the development and differentiation of naive T cells into T cells with an anti-inflammatory regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype. Our previous study showed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secreted by MSCs had immunomodulatory effects in the context of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. We hypothesized that HGF is a key factor in the MSC-mediated regulation of the T helper 17 (Th17) cell/regulator ...[more]

PMID: 32111238

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Project description:Background and objectiveUmbilical cord (UC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown immunoregulation of various immune cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of UC MSCs in the regulation of peripheral regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsThirty patients with active SLE, refractory to conventional therapies, were given UC MSCs infusions. The percentages of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and CD3+CD8-IL17A+ Th17 cells and the mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) of Foxp3 and IL-17 were measured at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after MSCs transplantation (MSCT). Serum cytokines, including transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-17A were detected using ELISA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients were collected and co-cultured with UC MSCs at ratios of 1:1, 10:1, and 50:1, respectively, for 72 h to detect the proportions of Treg and Th17 cells and the MFIs of Foxp3 and IL-17 were determined by flow cytometry. The cytokines in the supernatant solution were detected using ELISA. Inhibitors targeting TGF-β, IL-6, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), and prostaglandin E2 were added to the co-culture system, and the percentages of Treg and Th17 cells were observed.ResultsThe percentage of peripheral Treg and Foxp3 MFI increased 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after UC MSCs transplantation, while the Th17 proportion and MFI of IL-17 decreased 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the treatment, along with an increase in serum TGF-β at 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months and a decrease in serum TNF-α beginning at 1 week. There were no alterations in serums IL-6 and IL-17A before or after MSCT. In vitro studies showed that the UC MSCs dose-dependently up-regulated peripheral Treg proportion in SLE patients, which was not depended on cell-cell contact. However, the down-regulation of Th17 cells was not dose-dependently and also not depended on cell-cell contact. Supernatant TGF-β and IL-6 levels significantly increased, TNF-α significantly decreased, but IL-17A had no change after the co-culture. The addition of anti-TGF-β antibody significantly abrogated the up-regulation of Treg, and the addition of PGE2 inhibitor significantly abrogated the down-regulation of Th17 cells. Both anti-IL-6 antibody and IDO inhibitor had no effects on Treg and Th17 cells.ConclusionsUC MSCs up-regulate Treg and down-regulate Th17 cells through the regulation of TGF-β and PGE2 in lupus patients.

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Project description:BackgroundSjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by sicca syndrome and/or systemic manifestations. The disease severely affects the health and life of patients, and the treatment of SS has always been a clinical challenge and essentially palliative. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been reported to exert immunomodulatory effects and as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for SS. Labial gland-derived MSCs (LGMSCs) are a population of resident stem cells in the labial gland, first isolated by our group. Exosomes released by MSCs contain a large variety of bioactive molecules and considered to function as an extension of MSCs.MethodsLGMSCs were isolated from patients who were needed surgery to remove the lip mucocele and LGMSCs derived exosomes (LGMSC-Exos) were isolated by ultracentrifugation. The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were treated with LGMSCs or LGMSC-Exos by tail vein injection. The saliva flow rate of mice was determined and salivary glands were dissected and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. In vitro, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SS patients were cocultured with LGMSCs or LGMSC-Exos. Percentage of T helper 17 (Th17) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells were determined by flow cytometry. The serum levels of cytokines in NOD mice and in the supernatant of the co-culture system by ELISA.ResultsTreatment with LGMSCs or LGMSC-Exos reduced inflammatory infiltration in the salivary glands, and restored salivary gland secretory function in NOD mice. Importantly, LGMSCs or LGMSC-Exos were demonstrated to inhibit the differentiation of Th17 cells but promote the induction of Treg cells in NOD mice and PBMCs from SS patients in vitro, accompanied by reduced interleukin 17 (IL-17), interferon gamma, and IL-6 levels and enhanced transforming growth factor beta and IL-10 secretion by T cells.ConclusionsLGMSCs are potential candidates for MSCs-based therapy and LGMSC-Exos might be utilized for establishing a new cell-free therapy against SS.

Dataset Information

Mesenchymal stem cells regulate the Th17/Treg cell balance partly through hepatocyte growth factor in vitro.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Mesenchymal stem cells regulate the Th17/Treg cell balance partly through hepatocyte growth factor in vitro.

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