Modulation of the early inflammatory microenvironment in the alkali-burned eye by systemically administered interferon-γ-treated mesenchymal stromal cells

Stem Cells Dev. 2014 Oct 15;23(20):2490-500. doi: 10.1089/scd.2013.0568. Epub 2014 Jul 1.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of systemically administered bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) on the early acute phase of inflammation in the alkali-burned eye. Mice with damaged eyes were either untreated or treated 24 h after the injury with an intravenous administration of fluorescent-dye-labeled MSCs that were unstimulated or pretreated with interleukin-1α (IL-1α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), or interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Analysis of cell suspensions prepared from the eyes of treated mice on day 3 after the alkali burn revealed that MSCs specifically migrated to the damaged eye and that the number of labeled MSCs was more than 30-times higher in damaged eyes compared with control eyes. The study of the composition of the leukocyte populations within the damaged eyes showed that all types of tested MSCs slightly decreased the number of infiltrating lymphoid and myeloid cells, but only MSCs pretreated with IFN-γ significantly decreased the percentage of eye-infiltrating cells with a more profound effect on myeloid cells. Determining cytokine and NO production in the damaged eyes confirmed that the most effective immunomodulation was achieved with MSCs pretreated with IFN-γ, which significantly decreased the levels of the proinflammatory molecules IL-1α, IL-6, and NO. Taken together, the results show that systemically administered MSCs specifically migrate to the damaged eye and that IFN-γ-pretreated MSCs are superior in inhibiting the acute phase of inflammation, decreasing leukocyte infiltration, and attenuating the early inflammatory environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkalies / toxicity*
  • Allografts
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Burns, Chemical / pathology
  • Burns, Chemical / therapy*
  • Eye Burns / chemically induced*
  • Eye Burns / metabolism
  • Eye Burns / pathology
  • Eye Burns / therapy*
  • Female
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / therapy
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-1alpha / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Stem Cell Niche*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Alkalies
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interleukin-1alpha
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Interferon-gamma