Inflammation converts human mesoangioblasts into targets of alloreactive immune responses: implications for allogeneic cell therapy of DMD

Mol Ther. 2014 Jul;22(7):1342-1352. doi: 10.1038/mt.2014.62. Epub 2014 Apr 16.

Abstract

Stem cell therapy is a promising approach to regenerate healthy tissues starting from a limited amount of self-renewing cells. Immunological rejection of cell therapy products might represent a major limitation. In this study, we investigated the immunological functional profile of mesoangioblasts, vessel-associated myogenic stem cells, currently tested in a phase 1-2a trial, active in our Institute, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We report that in resting conditions, human mesoangioblasts are poorly immunogenic, inefficient in promoting the expansion of alloreactive T cells and intrinsically resistant to T-cell killing. However, upon exposure to interferon-γ or differentiation into myotubes, mesoangioblasts acquire the ability to promote the expansion of alloreactive T cells and acquire sensitivity to T-cell killing. Resistance of mesoangioblasts to T-cell killing is largely due to the expression of the intracellular serine protease inhibitor-9 and represents a relevant mechanism of stem cell immune evasion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / methods*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / therapy*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology

Substances

  • Interferon-gamma