Background: The use of immature dendritic cells (imDCs) to induce donor-specific immunotolerance following in vivo stimulation is limited by their low rate of induction and their tendency to undergo maturation. We derived imDCs from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs-imDCs). We then tested the ability of naringenin (Nar) to impede the maturation of HSCs-imDCs for inducing transplantation immune tolerance.
Methods: HSCs derived from bone marrow were collected and induced to differentiate into imDCs by treating with Nar (Nar-HSCs-imDCs). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate DC surface markers, apoptosis, and endocytic ability. The ability of DCs to influence the in vitro proliferation of T cells and of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was analyzed by mixed lymphocyte reaction assays. Enzyme-linked immunoassays were used to quantify cytokine levels in supernatants from co-cultured DCs and Tregs, as well as in the serum of experimental animals. The level of immunotolerance induced by Nar-HSCs-imDCs was evaluated by skin grafting in recipient Balb/c mice, while the Kaplan-Meier method was used to statistically evaluate graft survival.
Results: Compared with HSC-imDCs, Nar-HSCs-imDCs showed higher expression of cluster of differentiation 11c (CD11c), but lower expression levels of CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex class II. Nar-HSCs-imDCs also showed stronger inhibition of T cells and higher Treg cell proliferation. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma levels were downregulated in Nar-HSCs-imDCs, whereas IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor beta levels were upregulated. The rate of apoptosis and endocytic capacity of Nar-HSCs-DCs increased significantly after treatment with lipopolysaccharide. HSCs-imDCs or Nar-HSCs-imDCs were injected into Balb/c mice via the tail vein 7 days before skin grafting. Significantly reduced donor-specific CD4+ T cells and induced proliferation of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells were observed in the spleen of mice from the Nar-HSCs-imDCs group, especially at a dose of 106 Nar-HSCs-imDCs. The latter group also showed significantly prolonged survival of skin grafts.
Conclusions: Nar-HSCs-imDCs markedly improved the acceptance of organ allografts, offering a potentially new strategy for inducing immune tolerance in transplantation.
Keywords: hematopoietic stem cells; immature dendritic cells; immune tolerance; naringenin; skin graft.
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.