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Cassano JM, Leonard BC, Martins BC, Vapniarsky N, Morgan JT, Dow SW, Wotman KL, Pezzanite LM. Preliminary evaluation of safety and migration of immune activated mesenchymal stromal cells administered by subconjunctival injection for equine recurrent uveitis. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1293199. [PMID: 38162475 PMCID: PMC10757620 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1293199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), an immune mediated disease characterized by repeated episodes of intra-ocular inflammation, affects 25% of horses in the USA and is the most common cause of glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties, which are upregulated by preconditioning with toll-like receptor agonists. The objective was to evaluate safety and migration of TLR-3 agonist polyinosinic, polycytidylic acid (pIC)-activated MSCs injected subconjunctivally in healthy horses prior to clinical application in horses with ERU. We hypothesized that activated allogeneic MSCs injected subconjunctivally would not induce ocular or systemic inflammation and would remain in the conjunctiva for >14 days. Methods Bulbar subconjunctiva of two horses was injected with 10 × 106 pIC-activated (10 μg/mL, 2 h) GFP-labeled MSCs from one donor three times at two-week intervals. Vehicle (saline) control was injected in the contralateral conjunctiva. Horses received physical and ophthalmic exams [slit lamp biomicroscopy, rebound tonometry, fundic examination, and semiquantitative preclinical ocular toxicology scoring (SPOTS)] every 1-3 days. Systemic inflammation was assessed via CBC, fibrinogen, and serum amyloid A (SAA). Horses were euthanized 14 days following final injection. Full necropsy and histopathology were performed to examine ocular tissues and 36 systemic organs for MSC presence via IVIS Spectrum. Anti-GFP immunohistochemistry was performed on ocular tissues. Results No change in physical examinations was noted. Bloodwork revealed fibrinogen 100-300 mg/dL (ref 100-400) and SAA 0-25 μg/mL (ref 0-20). Ocular effects of the subjconjucntival injection were similar between MSC and control eyes on SPOTS grading system, with conjunctival hypermia, chemosis and ocular discharge noted bilaterally, which improved without intervention within 14 days. All other ocular parameters were unaffected throughout the study. Necropsy and histopathology revealed no evidence of systemic inflammation. Ocular histopathology was similar between MSC and control eyes. Fluorescent imaging analysis did not locate MSCs. Immunohistochemistry did not identify intact MSCs in the conjunctiva, but GFP-labeled cellular components were present in conjunctival phagocytic cells. Discussion Allogeneic pIC-activated conjunctival MSC injections were well tolerated. GFP-labeled tracking identified MSC components phagocytosed by immune cells subconjunctivally. This preliminary safety and tracking information is critical towards advancing immune conditioned cellular therapies to clinical trials in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Cassano
- Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brian C. Leonard
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Bianca C. Martins
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Natalia Vapniarsky
- Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Joshua T. Morgan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Steven W. Dow
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Kathryn L. Wotman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Lynn M. Pezzanite
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Cassano JM, Fortier LA, Hicks RB, Harman RM, Van de Walle GR. Equine mesenchymal stromal cells from different tissue sources display comparable immune-related gene expression profiles in response to interferon gamma (IFN)-γ. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2018; 202:25-30. [PMID: 30078595 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have the therapeutic potential to decrease inflammation due to their immunomodulatory properties. They can be isolated from various tissue sources such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, and blood, but it is unknown how the tissue source of origin affects the responses of MSC to inflammatory stimuli. Here, we conceptually addressed this question by evaluating the immune-related gene expression profiles of equine MSC from different tissue sources in response to interferon gamma (IFN-γ) stimulation, with the goal to determine if there is a preferable MSC source for clinical application in an inflammatory environment. The salient findings from this initial study were that the baseline expression of all immune related genes analyzed, with the exception of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), was variable in MSC depending on tissue source. Following IFN-γ stimulation, however, gene expression profiles became more similar across all tissue sources, suggesting that MSC from different sources will likely respond similarly in an inflammatory environment when used clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Cassano
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
| | - Lisa A Fortier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
| | - Rebecca B Hicks
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
| | - Rebecca M Harman
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
| | - Gerlinde R Van de Walle
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
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Cassano JM, Schnabel LV, Goodale MB, Fortier LA. Inflammatory licensed equine MSCs are chondroprotective and exhibit enhanced immunomodulation in an inflammatory environment. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:82. [PMID: 29615127 PMCID: PMC5883371 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0840-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Inflammatory licensed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to promote functional tissue repair. This study specifically sought to understand how the recipient tissue environment reciprocally affects MSC function. Inflammatory polarized macrophages, modeling an injured tissue environment, were exposed to licensed MSCs, and the resultant effects of MSC immunomodulation and functionality of the MSC secretome on chondrocyte homeostasis were studied. Methods Inflammatory licensed MSCs were generated through priming with either IFN-γ or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). Macrophages were polarized to an inflammatory phenotype using IFN-γ. Licensed MSCs were co-cultured with inflammatory macrophages and immunomodulation of MSCs was assessed in a T-cell proliferation assay. MSC gene expression was analyzed for changes in immunogenicity (MHC-I, MHC-II), immunomodulation (IDO, PTGS2, NOS2, TGF-β1), cytokine (IL-6, IL-8), and chemokine (CCL2, CXCL10) expression. Macrophages were assessed for changes in cytokine (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and chemokine (CCL2, CXCL10) expression. Conditioned medium representing the secretome from IFN-γ or poly I:C-primed MSCs was applied to IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes, which were analyzed for catabolic (IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2, CXCL10, MMP-13, PTGS2) and matrix synthesis (ACAN, COL2A1) genes. Results IFN-γ-primed MSCs had a superior ability to suppress T-cell proliferation compared to naïve MSCs, and this ability was maintained following exposure to proinflammatory macrophages. In naïve and licensed MSCs exposed to inflammatory macrophages, MHC-I and MHC-II gene expression was upregulated. The secretome from licensed MSCs was chondroprotective and downregulated inflammatory gene expression in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. Conclusions In-vitro inflammatory licensing agents enhanced the immunomodulatory ability of MSCs exposed to inflammatory macrophages, and the resultant secretome was biologically active, protecting chondrocytes from catabolic stimulation. Use of licensing agents produced a more consistent immunomodulatory MSC population compared to exposure to inflammatory macrophages. The clinical implications of this study are that in-vitro licensing prior to therapeutic application could result in a more predictable immunomodulatory and reparative response to MSC therapy compared to in-vivo inflammatory licensing by the recipient environment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-0840-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Cassano
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lauren V Schnabel
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Margaret B Goodale
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lisa A Fortier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Cassano JM, Schnabel LV, Goodale MB, Fortier LA. The immunomodulatory function of equine MSCs is enhanced by priming through an inflammatory microenvironment or TLR3 ligand. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2017; 195:33-39. [PMID: 29249315 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the therapeutic potential to treat a variety of inflammatory and degenerative disease processes, however the effects of the tissue environment on MSCs have been overlooked. Our hypothesis was that the immunomodulatory function of MSCs would be impaired by TLR4 stimulation or exposure to inflammatory macrophages, whereas their immunosuppressive properties would be enhanced by TLR3 stimulation. MSCs were exposed to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) to stimulate TLR3 receptors or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate TLR4 receptors. MSC1 proinflammatory phenotype in human MSCs was associated with increased IL-6 and IL-8 and MSC2 regenerative phenotype was associated with increased CCL2 and CXCL10. MSC immunomodulatory function was assessed by measuring the ability of primed MSCs to suppress mitogen-stimulated T cell proliferation. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated using CD14 MACs positive selection, differentiated into macrophages, and polarized using interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Polarization was confirmed by increased gene expression of TNFα, CCL2, and CXCL10. Inflammatory macrophages were co-cultured with MSCs for 6h, and the resultant MSC phenotype was analyzed as described above. Both TLR3 and TLR4 priming and co-culture of MSCs with inflammatory macrophages resulted in increased expression of IL-6, CCL2, and CXCL10 in MSCs. Both TLR3 and TLR4 priming or exposure of MSCs to inflammatory macrophages significantly (p<0.05) enhanced their immunomodulatory function, demonstrated by a decrease in T cell proliferation in the presence of poly I:C primed MSCs (11%), LPS primed MSCs (7%), or MSCs exposed to inflammatory macrophages (12%), compared to unstimulated MSCs. Additionally, MHC class II positive MSCs tended to have a greater magnitude of response to priming compared to MHC class II negative MSCs. These results suggest that MSCs can be activated by a variety of inflammatory stimuli, but the recipient injured tissue bed in chronic injuries may not contain sufficient inflammatory signals to activate MSC immunomodulatory function. Enhancement of MSCs immunomodulatory function through inflammatory priming prior to clinical application might improve the therapeutic effect of MSC treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Cassano
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lauren V Schnabel
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Margaret B Goodale
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lisa A Fortier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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