title: Serum-free media and the immunoregulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells in vivo and in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mesenchymal stem cells are capable of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. They are used extensively to treat several diseases. Traditionally, mesenchymal stem cells are cultured in serum-containing media, typically supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, the variability of FBS is likely to skew experimental results. Although serum-free media used to expand mesenchymal stem cells has facilitated remarkable achievements, immunomodulation of these cells in under serum-free conditions is poorly understood. We hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells expanded in serum-free media will retain powerful immunoregulatory functions in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunosuppressive activity and the immunomodulatory cytokines produced by mesenchymal stem cells in serum-free media were characterized in vitro. Immunomodulation by serum-free mesenchymal stem cell expansion in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension was explored in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar to cells in serum-containing media, mesenchymal stem cells expanded in serum-free media inhibited proliferation and apoptosis of CD4(+)T cells. They also exhibited strong immunosuppressive activities and secreted high levels of immunomodulatory cytokines such as PGE2, IDO1, COX2, IL-6, and IL-1β, but not HGF. On the other hand, growth of mesenchymal stem cells in serum-free media attenuated pulmonary vascular remodeling and inhibited mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mesenchymal stem cells in serum-free media maintained powerful immunomodulatory function in vitro and in vivo; serum-free media may replace serum-containing media for basic research and clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhi-Bo
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jun Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: You Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chun Tuan
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peng Liang
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Zhong Chao
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiong Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / Q000276:immunology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D016207:Cytokines; C576710:IDO1 protein, human; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D015232:Dinoprostone