title: Amniotic membrane is an immunosuppressor of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: Amniotic membrane (AM) is the inner layer of the placenta, which is in contact with the fetus; it has been used for transplantation in ocular surface diseases. It has been reported that amniotic membrane promotes epithelialization, inhibits angiogenesis and diminishes ocular inflammation. A persistent epithelial defect is the delay in epithelial wound healing caused by infiltrating inflammatory cells into the cornea and amniotic membrane transplantation has been successfully used in its treatment, however the mechanism of action in inhibiting inflammation it is not well understood. This study was aimed at determining whether denuded amniotic membrane (dAM) induces anti-inflammatory effects on peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured on dAM. Proliferation and apoptosis assays were performed on PBMC; and synthesis and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by these cells was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  dAM induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation of PBMC; and abolished the synthesis and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines even when they were LPS stimulated. In contrast, when PBMC were cultured on hydrophilic membrane cell culture inserts, apoptosis was not significantly induced, cell proliferation was conserved, and synthesis and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines were not affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these results could explain the anti-inflammatory in vivo effects observed when the amniotic membrane is used as a transplant.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Ophthalmology Institute, Conde de Valenciana Foundation, Mexico City, 06800. yogarfias@institutodeoftalmologia.org
authors.forename: Yonathan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Garfias
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaga-Clavellina
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vadillo-Ortega
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: Maria Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Martinez
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D053148:Caspase 3