title: Immunomodulatory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on T lymphocytes in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.
abstract: We explored the immunomodulatory effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on peripheral blood T lym-phocytes in patients with decompensation stage, hepatitis B-associated cirrhosis. MSCs from nine patients were analyzed by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated for fluorescent staining. Following stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), peripheral blood lymphocytes were co-cultured with BMSCs in serum and divided into four groups: (1) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA contact culture group; (2) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA non-contact culture group; (3) lym-phocyte + PHA positive control group; and (4) lymphocyte-only negative control group. Lymphocyte proliferation and frequencies of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) Tregs and CD4(+)CD8(-)IL-17(+) (Th17) cells were de-tected. Cell proliferation in groups 1 and 2 declined compared with group 3 (P < 0.01), and was notably higher than in group 4 (P < 0.01). CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) Tregs frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in groups 3 and 4. In an intra-group comparison before and after culture, Th17 cell frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in group 4 (P < 0.01), but lower than in group 3 (P < 0.01). The Treg/Th17 ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased (P < 0.01), but did not change signifi-cantly in groups 3 and 4 (P > 0.05). In a comparison between groups after culture, the Treg/Th17 ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased more than in groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.01). BMSCs from cirrhotic patients can inhibit the proliferation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes, upregulate the ex-pression of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) Tregs, and improve Treg/Th17 imbal-ance. The mechanism by which this takes place may be associated with immunomodulatory effects induced by the secretion of soluble factors.
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Southeast University Medical College, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Southeast University Medical College, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: L X
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Southeast University Medical College, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Southeast University Medical College, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China ganjianhe_gjh@163.com.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gan
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins