title: Mesenchymal stem cells support proliferation and terminal differentiation of B cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) play important roles in modulating the activities of T lymphocytes, dendritic cells and natural killer cells. These immunoregulatory properties of MSC suggest their therapeutic potential in autoimmune diseases. However, the effects of MSC on B cells are still poorly understood. The present study was designed to investigate the interaction between MSC and B cells both in vitro and in vivo, and to determine the possible mechanism of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) on proliferation and differentiation of B-cells were characterized in vitro, and we also tested the immunoregulatory properties of mouse bone marrow MSC (BM-MSC) on T cell dependent and independent antibody production in vivo in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with human UC-MSC resulted in an increase of proliferation, differentiation of B cells into plasma cells and production of antibodies in vitro. Mouse BM-MSC significantly enhanced T cell dependent and independent antibodies production in vivo in mice. PGE2 partially mediated the immunosuppressive activity of human UC-MSC but IL-6 did not regulate this activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSC promote proliferation and differentiation of B cells in vitro and in vivo partially through PGE2 but not IL-6.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Hospital of Blood Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union of Medical College, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yue Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Zhou Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-Bo
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Xiao Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Shao Guang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Dan Dan
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: You Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhong Chao
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D056747:Immunomodulation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C508241:SDC1 protein, human; D053668:Syndecan-1; D015232:Dinoprostone