Immune regulation of different genotypes of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on allogenic islet transplantation

Abstract

Objective To compare the immune regulation of syngenic and allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the transplantation combined with islets. Methods After induction of diabetes in 30 Lewis rats with streptozotocin (STZ), the recipient Lewis rats received islets from SD rats combined with syngenic (group B) or allogenic (group C) MSCs injection via the portal vein. The group of islets transplanted alone served as control (group A). The survival time of grafts in all groups was assessed by the level of blood glucose. ELISA was used to detect the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4 and IL-10 in the peripheral blood on the 1st and 3rd day after transplantation. Results The blood glucose levels in all three groups were decreased in a normal range (13. 9 mmol/L) and the survival time of grafts in group B (11.38 ± 4. 03 days) was significantly longer than in group C (5. 50± 2. 07 days) as well as group A (2. 88 ± 1.25 days). On the 1 st and 3rd day after transplantation, the levels of TH 1 cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 in group A were significantly higher than in groups C and B (P＜0.05). Meanwhile the levels of TH 2 cytokine IL-10were increased in group B, but there was no significant difference between groups A and C (P＞0.05). The levels of IL-4 had no significant difference among these three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Islet transplantation combined with MSCs could prolong the survival time of grafts.Syngenic MSCs, superior to allogenic ones, were more effective in changing the balance of TH1/TH2to TH2. Decreased expression of TH1 cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-2), which was closely related to the induction of immune tolerance, was beneficial to the long-term survival of grafts. Key words: Islet transplantation; Mesenchymal stem cellls; T-lymphocytes, helper-mducer; Immune tolerance; Diabetes mellitus