Human mesenchymal stem cells inhibit the differentiation andeffector functions of monocytes

摘要

Although monocytes represent an essential part of the host defencesystem, their accumulation and prolonged stimulation could bedetrimental and may aggravate chronic inflammatory diseases. Thepresent study has explored the less-understood immunomodulatoryeffects of mesenchymal stem cells on monocyte functions. Isolatedpurified human monocytes were co-cultured with human umbilicalcord-derived mesenchymal stem cells under appropriate cultureconditions to assess monocytes’ vital functions. Based on the surfacemarker analysis, mesenchymal stem cells halted monocytedifferentiation into dendritic cells and macrophages and reduced theirphagocytosis functions, which rendered an inability to stimulateT-cell proliferation. The present study confers that mesenchymal stemcells exerted potent immunosuppressive activity on monocyte functionssuch as differentiation, phagocytosis and Ag presentation; hence, theypromise a potential therapeutic role in down-regulating the unwantedmonocyte-mediated immune responses in the context of chronicinflammatory diseases.