title: In vitro immunomodulatory effects of microencapsulated umbilical cord Wharton jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human umbilical cord Wharton jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMS) are easy to retrieve in bulk. They may interact with immune cells by either cell contact or soluble factors. Little evidence is currently available on potential therapeutic application of hUCMS to systemic autoimmune disorders such as primary SS (pSS). We have recently developed an endotoxin-free alginate gel that can be used to microencapsulate different cell types for graft into non-immunosuppressed hosts. We aimed to assess the in vitro effects of IFN-γ-pretreated microencapsulated (CpS)-hUCMS on T cells of pSS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten pSS patients and 10 healthy donors were selected. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from venous blood to establish co-cultures with CpS-hUCMS. Lymphocyte proliferation and phenotypic analysis was performed by flow cytometry and real-time PCR on IFN-γ-pretreated hUCMS was performed before PBMCs co-culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that CpS-hUCMS suppress pSS T cell proliferation and restore the Treg/Th17 ratio, thereby possibly positively impacting the pSS disease process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a new biohybrid drug delivery system that now waits for clinical application in autoimmune diseases, including pSS.
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Alunno
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Pia
authors: P
authors: Montanucci
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Onelia
authors: O
authors: Bistoni
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Basta
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Caterbi
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Pescara
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Pennoni
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Vittorio
authors: V
authors: Bini
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Bartoloni
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. roberto.gerli@unipg.it.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Gerli
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Laboratory for the Study and Transplant of Pancreatic Islets (LSTPI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Calafiore
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Sjögren’s syndrome; Th17 cells; Treg cells; human umbilical cord mesenchymal cells; microencapsulation