Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-(Lymph)angiogenic Properties of an ABCB5+ Limbal Mesenchymal Stem Cell Population

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 25; no. 17; p. 9702
• Main Authors: Meshko, Berbang, Volatier, Thomas L A, Mann, Johanna, Kluth, Mark A, Ganss, Christoph, Frank, Markus H, Frank, Natasha Y, Ksander, Bruce R, Cursiefen, Claus, Notara, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.09.2024
• Subjects: (lymph)angiogenesis; ABCB5; Angiogenesis; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B - genetics; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B - metabolism; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 - metabolism; Care and treatment; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Collagen; Cornea; Corneal diseases; Development and progression; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Health aspects; Humans; Inflammation; Jurkat Cells; Limbus Corneae - cytology; Limbus Corneae - metabolism; mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Metabolism; Neovascularization; Physiological aspects; Stem cells; Stromal Cells - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - metabolism; Germany; (lymph)angiogenesis; cornea; mesenchymal stem cells; ABCB5
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179702

Corneal transparency and avascularity are essential for vision. The avascular cornea transitions into the vascularized conjunctiva at the limbus. Here, we explore a limbal stromal cell sub-population that expresses ABCB5 and has mesenchymal stem cell characteristics. Human primary corneal stromal cells were enriched for ABCB5 by using FACS sorting. ABCB5+ cells expressed the MSC markers CD90, CD73, and CD105. ABCB5+ but not ABCB5- cells from the same donor displayed evidence of pluripotency with a significantly higher colony-forming efficiency and the ability of trilineage differentiation (osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic). The ABCB5+ cell secretome demonstrated lower levels of the pro-inflammatory protein MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) as well as of the pro-(lymph)angiogenic growth factors VEGFA and VEGFC, which correlated with reduced proliferation of Jurkat cells co-cultured with ABCB5+ cells and decreased proliferation of blood and lymphatic endothelial cells cultured in ABCB5+ cell-conditioned media. These data support the hypothesis that ABCB5+ limbal stromal cells are a putative MSC population with potential anti-inflammatory and anti-(lymph)angiogenic effects. The therapeutic modulation of ABCB5+ limbal stromal cells may prevent cornea neovascularization and inflammation and, if transplanted to other sites in the body, provide similar protective properties to other tissues.