Cord-blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells downmodulate CD4+ T-cell activation by inducing IL-10-producing Th1 cells

Stem Cells Dev. 2013 Apr 1;22(7):1063-75. doi: 10.1089/scd.2012.0315. Epub 2013 Jan 4.

Abstract

The mechanisms by which mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) induce immunomodulation are still poorly understood. In the current work, we show by a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array, flow cytometry, and multiplex cytokine data analysis that during the inhibition of an alloantigen-driven CD4+ T-cell response, MSCs induce a fraction of CD4+ T-cells to coexpress interferon-γ (IFNγ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). This CD4+ IFNγ+ IL-10+ cell population shares properties with recently described T-cells originating from switched Th1 cells that start producing IL-10 and acquire a regulatory function. Here we report that IL-10-producing Th1 cells accumulated with time during T-cell stimulation in the presence of MSCs. Moreover, MSCs caused stimulated T-cells to downregulate the IFNγ receptor (IFNγR) without affecting IL-10 receptor expression. Further, the inhibitory effect of MSCs could be reversed by an anti-IFNγR-blocking antibody, indicating that IFNγ is one of the major players in MSC-induced T-cell suppression. Stimulated (and, to a lesser extent, resting) CD4+ T-cells treated with MSCs were able to inhibit the proliferation of autologous CD4+ T-cells, demonstrating their acquired regulatory properties. Altogether, our results suggest that the generation of IL-10-producing Th1 cells is one of the mechanisms by which MSCs can downmodulate an immune response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Blocking / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Fetal Blood / cytology
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation / immunology
  • Interferon gamma Receptor
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Receptors, Interferon / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Interferon / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • Receptors, Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interferon-gamma