Human Liver Stem Cells Suppress T-Cell Proliferation, NK Activity, and Dendritic Cell Differentiation

• Published in: Stem cells international Vol. 2016; no. 2016; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Camussi, Giovanni, Tetta, Ciro, Dametto, Ennia, Romagnoli, Renato, Pasquino, Chiara, Tapparo, Marta, Grange, Cristina, Bruno, Stefania, Amoroso, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2016; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Bone marrow; Cell differentiation; Comparative analysis; Dendritic cells; Experiments; Histocompatibility antigens; HLA histocompatibility antigens; Immune system; Immunogenicity; Lymphocytes; Stem cells; Studies
• ISSN: 1687-966X; 1687-9678; 1687-9678
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/8468549

Human liver stem cells (HLSCs) are a mesenchymal stromal cell-like population resident in the adult liver. Preclinical studies indicate that HLSCs could be a good candidate for cell therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and the immunomodulatory properties of HLSCs on T-lymphocytes, natural killer cells (NKs), and dendritic cells (DCs) in allogeneic experimental settings. We found that HLSCs inhibited T-cell proliferation by a mechanism independent of cell contact and dependent on the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity. When compared with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), HLSCs were more efficient in inhibiting T-cell proliferation. At variance with MSCs, HLSCs did not elicit NK degranulation. Moreover, HLSCs inhibited NK degranulation against K562, a NK-sensitive target, by a mechanism dependent on HLA-G release. When tested on DC generation from monocytes, HLSCs were found to impair DC differentiation and DCs ability to induce T-cell proliferation through PGE2. This study shows that HLSCs have immunomodulatory properties similar to MSCs, but, at variance with MSCs, they do not elicit a NK response.