Immunotherapeutic effects of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells on systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Lupus Vol. 29; no. 8; pp. 872 - 883
• Main Authors: Liu, Fang, Chen, Hui, Chen, Tao, Lau, Chak-sing, Yu, Fu-xun, Chen, Kun, Chen, Hou-ping, Pan, Run-sang, Chan, Godfrey Chi-Fung, Zhang, Xiang-yan, Nie, Ying-jie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.07.2020; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Anti-DNA antibodies; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD19 antigen; CD3 antigen; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; Disease Models, Animal; Dosage; Female; Graft-versus-host reaction; Green fluorescent protein; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - therapy; Lymphocytes B; Major histocompatibility complex; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; Phenotypes; Proteinuria; Spleen; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Systemic lupus erythematosus; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Transgenic mice; Ulcers; Autoimmune disease; mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203320928419
• ISSN: 0961-2033; 1477-0962

Mesenchymal stem cells have been applied to treat graft versus host disease as they have immunosuppressive ability and can overcome the major histocompatibility complex–histocompatibility barrier. The potential of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was investigated in this study. MRL/lpr mice which can develop acquired SLE-like phenotypes were selected as an animal model. Mesenchymal stem cells obtained from green fluorescent protein-transgenic ICR mice were infused into MRL/lpr mice at either the early or late stage of disease. The dosage was 1 × 106/mice per infusion. Mice were stratified into six groups including negative controls and those receiving one, two, three, four or five doses at 2-weekly intervals. The phenotypes were monitored regularly. After treatment, the spleen CD3+CD4–CD8– T and CD19+ B cells of two-dose mesenchymal stem cell-treated mice were significantly lower than those of the phosphate-buffered saline control. In terms of reducing the severity of SLE such as hair loss, skin ulcers, proteinuria and anti-dsDNA level, mesenchymal stem cells given at the early stage responded better and mice receiving two doses of mesenchymal stem cells performed better than those receiving either a lower dose (one dose) or higher doses (three, four or five doses). In conclusion, early treatment and an optimal dose of mesenchymal stem cells can effectively suppress the murine SLE model.