Xenogeneic Transplantation of Human Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviates Renal Injury and Reduces Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Lupus Nephritis

Biomed Res Int. 2019 Mar 3:2019:9370919. doi: 10.1155/2019/9370919. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) are considered a good source for cell therapy. The purpose of this study was to observe whether the transplantation of human pMSCs would affect the treatment of lupus nephritis (LN)-prone MRL/lpr mice. Multiple injections (at the 16th, 18th, and 20th week of age) of 1 × 106 pMSCs were administered. Urine was collected to evaluate proteinuria and urine creatinine levels. Blood was collected for the measurement of serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody levels. Renal tissues were collected for histological staining and examination by light and electron microscopy quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western Blot. The results confirmed that pMSC treatment reduced the severity of 24-h proteinuria, decreased the production of anti-dsDNA antibodies, and ameliorated renal pathological changes in MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, pMSCs reduced renal inflammation by inhibiting the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and then downregulating the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Therefore, our present study demonstrated a protective effect of pMSCs against renal injury and inflammation in MRL/lpr mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Kidney / injuries*
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Lupus Nephritis / blood
  • Lupus Nephritis / complications
  • Lupus Nephritis / pathology*
  • Lupus Nephritis / therapy*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Placenta / cytology*
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Proteinuria / complications
  • Proteinuria / pathology
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transplantation, Heterologous*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1