title: Mesenchymal stem cells recruit macrophages to alleviate experimental colitis through TGFβ1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) -induced colitis through modulation of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor signaling. However, the exact molecular mechanisms are not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we transplanted primary mouse MSCs or injected TGFβ1 into mice with DSS-induced colitis. Cells were purified by flow cytometry. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that MSCs significantly alleviated the DSS-induced colitis, and the major sources for TGFβ1 were macrophages that were recruited by MSCs. Specific ablation of macrophages completely abolished the anti-inflammatory effects of MSCs. On the other hand, TGFβ1 administration, without the presence of MSCs, was sufficient to reduce the severity of DSS-induced colitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our data suggest that MSCs transplantation may recruit macrophages to produce TGFβ1, which mitigates the pathology of colitis. Thus, MSCs transplantation appears to be a promising therapy for severe enteritis.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors: Weixin
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Shen
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Shouzhi
authors: S
authors: Gu
authors: Lixuan
authors: L
authors: Sang
authors: Cong
authors: C
authors: Dai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D051379:Mice; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016264:Dextran Sulfate