An in vitro assay to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of unrestricted somatic stem cells.
BACKGROUND
Unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) are cord blood stem cells that have been considered as candidates for the regulation of immune responses. Therefore, potential exists for their use in the suppression of immune response after transplantation surgery.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was evaluation of the effect of USSC on mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) as a model for graft rejection.


METHODS
USSC and mesanchymal stem cells (MSC) were isolated and cultured from cord blood and bone morrow, respectively. The immunophenotypes of USSC and MSC were evaluated by flow cytometery and USSC and MSC were co-cultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in an MLR to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of these cells as a percentage of the control response.


RESULTS
Current study demonstrated that proliferation of lymphocytes in the MLR was decreased after treatment with USSC, in a similar fashion to that seen with MSC.


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that USSC have similar regulatory effects as MSC on the MLR, which can be used as an indicator for potential organ rejection after transplantation. Therefore, the immunregulatory effect of these cells could be used in the clinic during organ transplantation and in the management of autoimmunity.
Ebrahimi
Hasan
H
Department of Hematology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Soleimani
Masoud
M
Kazemi Arababadi
Mohammad
M
Ahmadbeigi
Naser
N
Hassanshahi
Gholamhossein
G
Farjadfar
Akbar
A
Kennedy
Derek
D
D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous