Cotransplantation with myeloid-derived suppressor cells protects cell transplants: A crucial role of inducible nitric oxide synthase

摘要

BACKGROUND: Islet transplantation is an alternative to pancreas transplantation to cure type 1 diabetes, but both require chronic immunosuppression, which is often accompanied by deleterious side effects. The purpose of this study was to explore prolongation of islet allograft survival by cotransplantation with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) without requirement of immunosuppression and determine the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) produced by MDSCs in immune regulation. METHODS: Bone marrow cells were isolated from wild-type (WT) or iNOS-/- mice and cultured in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), resulting in the generation of MDSCs. WT or iNOS-/- MDSCs were cotransplanted with islet allografts under the renal capsule of diabetic recipient mice. RESULTS: Addition of HSCs into DC culture promoted generation of MDSCs (instead of DCs). MDSCs had elevated expression of iNOS upon exposure to IFN-γ and inhibited T-cell responses in an MLR culture. Cotransplantation with WT MDSCs markedly prolonged survival of islet allografts, which was associated with reduced infiltration of CD8 T cells resulting from inhibited proliferative response. These effects were significantly attenuated when MDSCs were deficient in iNOS. Furthermore, iNOS-/- MDSCs largely lost their ability to protect islet allografts. CONCLUSIONS: Cotransplantation with HSC-induced MDSCs significantly extends islet allograft survival through iNOS-mediated T-cell inhibition. The results demonstrate the potential use of in vitro generated MDSCs as a novel adjunctive immunotherapy for islet transplantation.