Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell extracts ameliorate atopic dermatitis in mice by reducing the T cell responses

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 29;9(1):6623. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42964-7.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord (UC-MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to explore whether extracts of MSCs (MSC-Ex) could augment the low therapeutic efficacy of the whole cells in an Aspergillus fumigatus (Af)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) model. LPS- or TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were treated with MSC-Ex, and the Af-induced AD model was established in BALB/c mice. In HaCaT cells, MSC-Ex treatment significantly reduced the inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5 and TNF-α), iNOS and NF-κB levels, and upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β1). In the AD mice, the MSC-Ex group showed greatly reduced dermatitis, and lower clinical symptom scores and IgE levels. The histological dermatitis scores were also markedly lower in the MSC-Ex-treated animals compared with the MSC-treated group. Decreased levels of IFN-γ (Th1) and IL-17 (Th17), IL-4 and IL-13 (Th2) were detected in T cells and the skin tissue from the MSC-Ex treated AD mice. The therapeutic capacity of MSC-Ex was preserved after lyophilization and reconstitution. MSC-Ex treatment reproducibly suppresses dermatitis and inhibits the induction of inflammatory cytokines in the skin of AD mice. MSC-Ex is therefore a potential new treatment agent for AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / pathogenicity*
  • Cell Line
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / microbiology*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / therapy*
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Keratinocytes / drug effects
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / physiology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-4
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II