Mol Immunol. 2017 May 19;87:293-299. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.03.003. [Epub ahead of print]

Immunomodulatory function of whole human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Zhang H¹, Tao Y², Liu H³, Ren S⁴, Zhang B⁵, Chen H⁶.

Abstract

Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a critical role in immune modulation. However, immunomodulatory function of whole human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) remains unclear. In this study, UC-MSCs were separated from whole umbilical cord using a single enzyme digestion. UC-MSCs (CD73⁺, CD90⁺, CD105⁺, and CD34^-, CD45^-, HLA-DR^-) were differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes in vitro under specific stimulatory environments. UC-MSCs suppressed umbilical cord blood lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by mitogen, and ELISA showed that the secretion of INF-γ was downregulated, and the secretion of IL-4 was upregulated, with CD8⁺ T cells markedly decreased and CD4⁺ T cells changed lightly. Moreover, the infusion of UC-MSCs in recipient mice transplanted with donor bone marrow cells ameliorated acute graft-versus host disease (aGVHD) and extended survival. In conclusion, UC-MSCs might negatively modulate immunoreactions, and have application potential in the treatment of aGVHD caused by allogeneic stem cells transplantation.