Immunologic properties of human fetal mesenchymal stem cells.
OBJECTIVE
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from adult bone marrow and fetal liver. We investigated the immunologic properties of undifferentiated and differentiated human fetal MSCs.


METHODS
Expression of HLA class I and II was investigated by flow cytometry and Western blot on undifferentiated fetal MSC and after in vitro differentiation to adipocytes and osteocytes. Alloreactivity was studied after adding fetal MSCs to allogeneic lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte cultures.


RESULTS
Fetal MSCs expressed HLA class I but not HLA class II. The presence of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the growth medium for 2 days initiated the intracellular synthesis of HLA class II, but 7 days of exposure was required for cell surface expression. Neither undifferentiated nor differentiated fetal MSCs induced proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes. Fetal MSCs treated with IFN-gamma suppressed alloreactive lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Undifferentiated and differentiated fetal MSCs do not elicit alloreactive lymphocyte proliferation. The results suggest that fetal MSCs have potentials for allogenic transplantation.
Götherström
Cecilia
C
Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Cecelia.Gotherstrom@labmed.ki.se
Ringdén
Olle
O
Tammik
Charlotte
C
Zetterberg
Eva
E
Westgren
Magnus
M
Le Blanc
Katarina
K
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D003470:Culture Media; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007371:Interferon-gamma