Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the bone marrow cells-induced lupus like presen-tations

Abstract

Objective Whether the bone marrow cells(BMC) derived from systemic lupus erythe-matosus(SLE) could transmit autoimmune disease was studied for the purpose of clarifying the role of BMC in SLE pathogenesis. The effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSC) from SLE and control mice on the SLE BMC-induced symptoms were compared to elucidate the role of MSC in SLE. Methods Six-week-old B6. MRL-Faslpr mice were randomly divided into 3 groups. One group was transplanted with BMC from the 30-week-old B6. MRL-Faslpr mice. One group was co-transplanted with BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Faslpr mice and bone marrow MSC from the agematched B6.MRL-Faslpr mice. One group was co-transplanted with BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Faslpr mice and bone marrow MSC from the age-matched C57BL/6 mice. Before transplantation, the recipient mice received irradiation by an X-ray source. The levels of serum antinuclear antibody(ANA) and proteinuria were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and Bradford method every 4 weeks, respectively. The survival rate was recorded. All mice were sacrificed 18 weeks later. Splenic plasma cells, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells were measured by flow cytometry. Statistical analyses were performed using the independent t test and ANOVA. Results Eight weeks after transplantation, ANA was positive in all the recipient mice. However, there was no significant difference between the three groups(P>0.05). No proteinuria was observed in all the recipient mice. The mice received BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Faslpr mice and bone marrow MSC from the age-matched B6.MRL-Faslpr mice showed an elevated trend of the percentages of splenic plasma cells, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells compared with the other two groups, plasma cells [(1.05±0.16)%,(0.58±0.11)%,t=2.53,P>0.05;(1.05±0.16)%,(0.71±0.18)%,t=1.45,P>0.05], Th1 cells [(6.6±2.2)%,(5.7±1.0)%,t=0.38,P>0.05;(6.6±2.2)%,(4.0±1.7)%,t=0.96,P>0.05], Th2 cells [(3.3±0.4)%,(2.1±0.6)%,t=1.76,P>0.05;(3.3±0.4)%,(2.2±0.6)%,t=1.51,P>0.05], Th17 cells [(2.30±0.71)%,(1.31±0.31)%, t=1.27,P>0.05;(2.30±0.71)%,(1.12±0.27)%,t=1.67,P>0.05]. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. The survival rate of the three groups was 43%, 43% and 80% respectively. And the survival rate of the mice received BMC from the 30-week-old B6. MRL-Faslpr mice and bone marrow MSC from the age-matched C57BL/6 mice was significantly higher than those of the other groups. Conclusion Our results indicate that BMC from SLE can transmit autoimmune disease. The bone marrow MSC can not prevent lupus-like presentations induced by BMC from SLE. Transplantation of bone marrow MSC from C57BL/6 mice can significantly elevate the survival rate. Key words: Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Mesenchymal stem cells; Transplantation