1
|
Vandermeulen M, Erpicum P, Bletard N, Poma L, Jouret F, Detry O. Effect of the Combination of Everolimus and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Regulatory T Cells Levels and in a Liver Transplant Rejection Model in Rats. Front Immunol 2022; 13:877953. [PMID: 35757737 PMCID: PMC9226583 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.877953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have particular properties that are of interest in organ transplantation, including the expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs), a key factor in transplant tolerance induction. However, the most effective immunosuppressive drug to associate with MSCs has yet to be defined. Additionally, the impact of the association of everolimus with MSCs on Treg expansion, and on the induction of liver graft tolerance, has never been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of MSCs in combination, or not, with everolimus on Treg expansion and in a model of rejection after liver transplantation (LT) in the rat. Methods Firstly, 24 Lewis rats were assigned to 4 groups (n=6 in each group) receiving intravenous MSCs or saline injection at day (D)9 with/without subcutaneous everolimus from D0 to D14. Analysis of circulating Tregs was performed at D0, D14 and D28. In a second set of experiment, 30 Lewis rats were randomized in 3 groups 48hours after LT with a Dark Agouti rat liver: everolimus (subcutaneous for 14 days), MSCs (intravenous injection at post-operative day 2 and 9), or both everolimus and MSCs. Rejection of the liver graft was assessed by liver tests, histology and survival. Results Individually, MSC infusion and everolimus promoted Treg expansion in rats, and everolimus had no negative impact on Treg expansion in combination with MSCs. However, in the LT model, injections of MSCs two and nine days following LT were not effective at preventing acute rejection, and the combination of MSCs with everolimus failed to show any synergistic effect when compared to everolimus alone. Conclusion Everolimus may be used in association with MSCs. However, in our model of LT in the rat, post-transplant MSC injections did not prevent acute rejection, and the association of MSCs with everolimus did not show any synergistic effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Vandermeulen
- Department of Abdominal Surgery and Transplantation, University of Liege Hospital [Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) ULiege], Liege, Belgium.,Centre de Recherche et de Développement du Département de Chirurgie (CREDEC), Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liege (ULiege), Liege, Belgium.,Laboratory of Translational Research in Nephrology (LTRN), Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liege (ULiege), Liege, Belgium
| | - Pauline Erpicum
- Laboratory of Translational Research in Nephrology (LTRN), Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liege (ULiege), Liege, Belgium.,Division of Nephrology, University of Liege Hospital [Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) ULiege], Liege, Belgium
| | - Noella Bletard
- Department of Pathology, University of Liege Hospital [Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) ULiege], Liege, Belgium
| | - Laurence Poma
- Laboratory of Translational Research in Nephrology (LTRN), Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liege (ULiege), Liege, Belgium
| | - François Jouret
- Laboratory of Translational Research in Nephrology (LTRN), Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liege (ULiege), Liege, Belgium.,Division of Nephrology, University of Liege Hospital [Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) ULiege], Liege, Belgium
| | - Olivier Detry
- Department of Abdominal Surgery and Transplantation, University of Liege Hospital [Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) ULiege], Liege, Belgium.,Centre de Recherche et de Développement du Département de Chirurgie (CREDEC), Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée (GIGA), Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liege (ULiege), Liege, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang X, MacParland SA, Perciani CT. Immunological Determinants of Liver Transplant Outcomes Uncovered by the Rat Model. Transplantation 2021; 105:1944-1956. [PMID: 33417410 PMCID: PMC8376267 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
For many individuals with end-stage liver disease, the only treatment option is liver transplantation. However, liver transplant rejection is observed in 24%-80% of transplant patients and lifelong drug regimens that follow the transplant procedure lead to serious side effects. Furthermore, the pool of donor livers available for transplantation is far less than the demand. Well-characterized and physiologically relevant models of liver transplantation are crucial to a deeper understanding of the cellular processes governing the outcomes of liver transplantation and serve as a platform for testing new therapeutic strategies to enhance graft acceptance. Such a model has been found in the rat transplant model, which has an advantageous size for surgical procedures, similar postoperative immunological progression, and high genome match to the human liver. From rat liver transplant studies published in the last 5 years, it is clear that the rat model serves as a strong platform to elucidate transplant immunological mechanisms. Using the model, we have begun to uncover potential players and possible therapeutic targets to restore liver tolerance and preserve host immunocompetence. Here, we present an overview of recent literature for rat liver transplant models, with an aim to highlight the value of the models and to provide future perspectives on how these models could be further characterized to enhance the overall value of rat models to the field of liver transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinle Wang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sonya A MacParland
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ajmera Family Transplant Centre, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Catia T Perciani
- Ajmera Family Transplant Centre, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang K, Shi YJ, Song ZL, Wu B, Zhou CL, Liu W, Gao W. Regulatory effect of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on Treg/Th17 immune balance in vitro. Mol Med Rep 2020; 21:2123-2130. [PMID: 32186771 PMCID: PMC7115201 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) regulate the balance between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells. However, the role of different factors on BM-MSCs-mediated regulation of the Treg/Th17 balance is unknown. BM-MSCs and CD4+ T lymphocytes were co-cultured with various treatments. The ratio of Treg/Th17 cells was calculated and the expression of different cytokines was measured. BM-MSCs were found to have a proliferative effect on Th17 cells at a basal concentration and at a 2-fold increase in the number of BM-MSCs. However, when the number of BM-MSCs used was increased 4-fold, they had an inhibitory effect on the Th17 cells. The effect of BM-MSCs on Tregs was inhibited by the addition of tacrolimus but not rapamycin. The effect of BM-MSCs on Th17 cells was inhibited by rapamycin. Additionally, the effect of BM-MSCs on Tregs were inhibited by the addition of a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) blocker, whereas these TGF-β-blockers had no effect on Th17 cells. Addition of an interleukin (IL)-2 blocker reduced the proportion of Th17 cells when co-cultured with a high number of MSCs compared with the low concentration group and the proportion of Treg cells was significantly decreased when cells were treated with an IL-2 blocker compared with the control group. Together, these results showed the varying effects of MSCs on the ratio of Treg/Th17, its dependence on the number of MSCs and the effects of cytokines in inducing these changes in the balance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Jun Shi
- Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation, Department of Transplant Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Zhuo-Lun Song
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| | - Chun-Lei Zhou
- Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- Blood Transfusion Department, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu C, Li L. The immunoregulation of mesenchymal stem cells plays a critical role in improving the prognosis of liver transplantation. J Transl Med 2019; 17:412. [PMID: 31823784 PMCID: PMC6905033 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-02167-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is supplied by a dual blood supply, including the portal venous system and the hepatic arterial system; thus, the liver organ is exposed to multiple gut microbial products, metabolic products, and toxins; is sensitive to extraneous pathogens; and can develop liver failure, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after short-term or long-term injury. Although liver transplantation (LT) serves as the only effective treatment for patients with end-stage liver diseases, it is not very popular because of the complications and low survival rates. Although the liver is generally termed an immune and tolerogenic organ with adaptive systems consisting of humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity, a high rejection rate is still the main complication in patients with LT. Growing evidence has shown that mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation could serve as an effective immunomodulatory strategy to induce tolerance in various immune-related disorders. MSCs are reported to inhibit the immune response from innate immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer cells (NK cells), and natural killer T (NKT) cells, and that from adaptive immune cells, including T cells, B cells and other liver-specific immune cells, for the generation of a tolerogenic microenvironment. In this review, we summarized the relationship between LT and immunoregulation, and we focused on how to improve the effects of MSC transplantation to improve the prognosis of LT. Only after exhaustive clarification of the potential immunoregulatory mechanisms of MSCs in vitro and in vivo can we implement MSC protocols in routine clinical practice to improve LT outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenxia Hu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.,National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
You Y, Wen DG, Gong JP, Liu ZJ. Research Status of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Liver Transplantation. Cell Transplant 2019; 28:1490-1506. [PMID: 31512503 PMCID: PMC6923564 DOI: 10.1177/0963689719874786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation has been deemed the best choice for end-stage liver disease
patients but immune rejection after surgery is still a serious problem. Patients have to
take immunosuppressive drugs for a long time after liver transplantation, and this often
leads to many side effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) gradually became of interest to
researchers because of their powerful immunomodulatory effects. In the past, a large
number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the great potential of MSCs for
participation in posttransplant immunomodulation. In addition, MSCs also have properties
that may potentially benefit patients undergoing liver transplantation. This article aims
to provide an overview of the current understanding of the immunomodulation achieved by
the application of MSCs in liver transplantation, to discuss the problems that may be
encountered when using MSCs in clinical practice, and to describe some of the underlying
capabilities of MSCs in liver transplantation. Cell–cell contact, soluble molecules, and
exosomes have been suggested to be critical approaches to MSCs’ immunoregulation in vitro;
however, the exact mechanism, especially in vivo, is still unclear. In recent years, the
clinical safety of MSCs has been proven by a series of clinical trials. The obstacles to
the clinical application of MSCs are decreasing, but large sample clinical trials
involving MSCs are still needed to further study their clinical effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu You
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China.,Yu You and Di-guang Wen are equal contributors and co-first authors of this article
| | - Di-Guang Wen
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China.,Yu You and Di-guang Wen are equal contributors and co-first authors of this article
| | - Jian-Ping Gong
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
| | - Zuo-Jin Liu
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells attenuate liver allograft rejection may via upregulation PD-L1 expression through downregulation of miR-17-5p. Transpl Immunol 2018; 51:21-29. [PMID: 30092337 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Studies have reported that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) play an important role in immune regulation after organ transplantation. Some of the BMSC-mediated regulatory mechanisms are related to PD-L1 expression. However, the regulatory mechanism of PD-L1 expression is not fully understood. In this experiment, we confirmed the regulatory role of BMSCs in the rejection of liver transplantation and explored the possible mechanism by which PD-L1 expression is regulated in BMSCs. An orthotopic liver transplantation model in rats was established based on the "double-cuff technique". Third-generation BMSCs were injected into the rejection model rats via portal vein. At the same time, sera were obtained from rats in the allograft, isograft and sham-operated groups. The sera from these groups were separately added to BMSCs complete medium to partially mimic the in vivo environment in which BMSCs are exposed. After predicting and analysing microRNAs that regulate PD-L1 expression, we examined the microRNA and PD-L1 expression in BMSCs of the three groups cultured in the conditioned media. Moreover, a luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the interaction between PD-L1 and microRNA. The study found that the liver function and liver graft histopathology of the BMSC-treated group were better than those of the allograft group. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the median survival time (MST) of the BMSC-treated group was longer than that of the allograft group. Bioinformatics prediction and analysis showed that miR-17-5p is highly likely to regulate PD-L1. Compared with the other two groups of cells, BMSCs cultured with serum from allograft models showed higher PD-L1 expression, but lower miR-17-5p expression. Pearson correlation analysis showed that miR-17-5p and PD-L1 expression was negatively correlated, and further luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-17-5p interacted directly with the 3´-untranslated region (UTR) of PD-L1 mRNA. The results of this study demonstrate that BMSCs can attenuate liver allograft rejection and provide us with the idea that BMSCs may further upregulate PD-L1 expression by downregulating miR-17-5p expression, thereby attenuating liver allograft rejection.
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen ZH, Wang C, Wei FX, Xu BB, Liu J, Pu Y, Zhang SL, Jiang PC. Adenovirus-mediated OX40Ig gene transfer induces long-term survival of orthotopic liver allograft in rats. Transpl Immunol 2018; 48:32-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|
8
|
Lee CW, Chen YF, Wu HH, Lee OK. Historical Perspectives and Advances in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Research for the Treatment of Liver Diseases. Gastroenterology 2018; 154:46-56. [PMID: 29107021 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.09.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the only effective therapy for patients with decompensated cirrhosis and fulminant liver failure. However, due to a shortage of donor livers and complications associated with immune suppression, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies for patients with end-stage liver diseases. Given their unique function in self-renewal and differentiation potential, stem cells might be used to regenerate damaged liver tissue. Recent studies have shown that stem cell-based therapies can improve liver function in a mouse model of hepatic failure. Moreover, acellular liver scaffolds seeded with hepatocytes produced functional bioengineered livers for organ transplantation in preclinical studies. The therapeutic potential of stem cells or their differentiated progenies will depend on their capacity to differentiate into mature and functional cell types after transplantation. It will also be important to devise methods to overcome their genomic instability, immune reactivity, and tumorigenic potential. We review directions and advances in the use of mesenchymal stem cells and their derived hepatocytes for liver regeneration. We also discuss the potential applications of hepatocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells and challenges to using these cells in treating end-stage liver disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Wei Lee
- Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Stem Cell Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fan Chen
- Stem Cell Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Hsiang Wu
- Stem Cell Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Oscar K Lee
- Stem Cell Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Promotion of Cell-Based Therapy: Special Focus on the Cooperation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy and Gene Therapy for Clinical Trial Studies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1119:103-118. [PMID: 30155859 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2018_256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine (RM) is a promising new field of medicine that has mobilized several new tools to repair or replace lost or damaged cells or tissues by stimulating natural regenerative mechanisms nearby cell and tissue-based therapy approaches. However, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) based therapy has been shown to be safe and effective to a certain degree in multiple clinical trial studies (CTSs) of several diseases, in most MSC CTSs the efficacy of treatment has been reported low. Therefore, researchers have focused on efficacy enhancing of MSC to improve migratory and homing, survival, stemness, differentiation and other therapeutic applicable properties by using different approaches. Gene therapy is one of the experimental technique tools that uses genes to change cells for therapeutic and investigation purposes. In this study has been focused on genetically modified MSCs for use in RM with an emphasis on CTSs. We highlight the basic concept of genetic modifications and also discuss recent clinical studies aspects. Recently reviewed studies show that MSC therapy with assistant gene therapy can be used in cancer therapy, heart diseases, Fanconi anemia and several other diseases.
Collapse
|