Genetic modification to induce CXCR2 overexpression in mesenchymal stem cells enhances treatment benefits in radiation-induced oral mucositis

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Feb 14;9(2):229. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0310-x.

Abstract

Radiation-induced oral mucositis affects patient quality of life and reduces tolerance to cancer therapy. Unfortunately, traditional treatments are insufficient for the treatment of mucositis and might elicit severe side effects. Due to their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a potential therapeutic strategy for mucositis. However, systemically infused MSCs rarely reach inflamed sites, impacting their clinical efficacy. Previous studies have demonstrated that chemokine axes play an important role in MSC targeting. By systematically evaluating the expression patterns of chemokines in radiation/chemical-induced oral mucositis, we found that CXCL2 was highly expressed, whereas cultured MSCs negligibly express the CXCL2 receptor CXCR2. Thus, we explored the potential therapeutic benefits of the transplantation of CXCR2-overexpressing MSCs (MSCsCXCR2) for mucositis treatment. Indeed, MSCsCXCR2 exhibited enhanced targeting ability to the inflamed mucosa in radiation/chemical-induced oral mucositis mouse models. Furthermore, we found that MSCCXCR2 transplantation accelerated ulcer healing by suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory chemokines and radiogenic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Altogether, these findings indicate that CXCR2 overexpression in MSCs accelerates ulcer healing, providing new insights into cell-based therapy for radiation/chemical-induced oral mucositis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid
  • Animals
  • Chemokine CXCL2 / genetics*
  • Chemokine CXCL2 / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / radiation effects
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / radiation effects
  • Gamma Rays
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oral Ulcer / etiology
  • Oral Ulcer / genetics
  • Oral Ulcer / pathology
  • Oral Ulcer / therapy*
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / genetics*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stomatitis / etiology
  • Stomatitis / genetics
  • Stomatitis / pathology
  • Stomatitis / therapy*
  • Tongue / drug effects
  • Tongue / metabolism
  • Tongue / pathology
  • Tongue / radiation effects
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL2
  • Cxcl2 protein, mouse
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B
  • Acetic Acid