Research Article

Immunomodulatory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on T lymphocytes in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Published: June 26, 2015
Genet. Mol. Res. 14 (2) : 7039-7046 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.June.26.13
Cite this Article:
C.H. Guo, L.X. Han, M.R. Wan, G.J. Deng, J.H. Gan (2015). Immunomodulatory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on T lymphocytes in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Genet. Mol. Res. 14(2): 7039-7046. https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.June.26.13
2,700 views

Abstract

We explored the immunomodulatory effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on peripheral blood T lym­phocytes in patients with decompensation stage, hepatitis B-associated cirrhosis. MSCs from nine patients were analyzed by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated for fluorescent staining. Following stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), peripheral blood lymphocytes were co-cultured with BMSCs in serum and divided into four groups: (1) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA contact culture group; (2) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA non-contact culture group; (3) lym­phocyte + PHA positive control group; and (4) lymphocyte-only negative control group. Lymphocyte proliferation and frequencies of CD4+CD25+CD127- Tregs and CD4+CD8-IL-17+ (Th17) cells were de­tected. Cell proliferation in groups 1 and 2 declined compared with group 3 (P < 0.01), and was notably higher than in group 4 (P < 0.01). CD4+CD25+CD127- Tregs frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in groups 3 and 4. In an intra-group comparison before and after culture, Th17 cell frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in group 4 (P < 0.01), but lower than in group 3 (P < 0.01). The Treg/Th17 ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased (P < 0.01), but did not change signifi­cantly in groups 3 and 4 (P > 0.05). In a comparison between groups after culture, the Treg/Th17 ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased more than in groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.01). BMSCs from cirrhotic patients can inhibit the proliferation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes, upregulate the ex­pression of CD4+CD25+CD127- Tregs, and improve Treg/Th17 imbal­ance. The mechanism by which this takes place may be associated with immunomodulatory effects induced by the secretion of soluble factors.

We explored the immunomodulatory effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on peripheral blood T lym­phocytes in patients with decompensation stage, hepatitis B-associated cirrhosis. MSCs from nine patients were analyzed by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated for fluorescent staining. Following stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), peripheral blood lymphocytes were co-cultured with BMSCs in serum and divided into four groups: (1) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA contact culture group; (2) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA non-contact culture group; (3) lym­phocyte + PHA positive control group; and (4) lymphocyte-only negative control group. Lymphocyte proliferation and frequencies of CD4+CD25+CD127- Tregs and CD4+CD8-IL-17+ (Th17) cells were de­tected. Cell proliferation in groups 1 and 2 declined compared with group 3 (P +CD25+CD127- Tregs frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in groups 3 and 4. In an intra-group comparison before and after culture, Th17 cell frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in group 4 (P 0.05). In a comparison between groups after culture, the Treg/Th17 ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased more than in groups 3 and 4 (P +CD25+CD127- Tregs, and improve Treg/Th17 imbal­ance. The mechanism by which this takes place may be associated with immunomodulatory effects induced by the secretion of soluble factors.