Stanniocalcin-2 contributes to mesenchymal stromal cells attenuating murine contact hypersensitivity mainly via reducing CD8+ Tc1 cells

Cell Death Dis. 2018 May 1;9(5):548. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0614-x.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to ameliorate allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a typical T-cell-mediated disorder. However, the underlying mechanisms behind the MSC-based treatment for ACD have not yet been fully elucidated. The stanniocalcins (STCs) comprise a family of secreted glycoprotein hormones that act as important anti-inflammatory proteins. Here, we investigated the roles of STCs in MSC-mediated T-cell suppression and their potential role in the MSC-based treatment for ACD. Gene expression profiling revealed that STC2, but not STC1, was highly expressed in MSCs. STC2 knockdown in MSCs significantly impaired their effects in reducing TNF-α- and IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells. Importantly, silencing the STC2 expression in MSCs abated their therapeutic effect on contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in mice, mainly restoring the generation and infiltration of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells (Tc1 cells). Mechanistically, STC2 co-localized with heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in MSCs, and contributed to MSC-mediated reduction of CD8+ Tc1 cells via regulating HO-1 activity. Together, these findings newly identify STC2 as the first stanniocalcin responsible for mediating the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs on allogeneic T cells and STC2 contribute to MSC-based treatment for ACD mainly via reducing the CD8+ Tc1 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allografts
  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Dermatitis, Contact / immunology*
  • Dermatitis, Contact / pathology
  • Dermatitis, Contact / therapy
  • Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / immunology
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • IFNG protein, mouse
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • STC2 protein, human
  • Stc2 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Hmox1 protein, mouse