Administration of bone marrow stromal cells ameliorates experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by altering the balance of Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg cell subsets through the secretion of TGF-beta

J Neuroimmunol. 2009 Feb 15;207(1-2):83-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2008.12.005. Epub 2009 Jan 26.

Abstract

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are strong candidates for cell therapy against human autoimmune diseases. Intravenous administration of syngenic BMSCs to EAMG-model rats effectively ameliorated the disease, partially through a TGF-beta-dependent mechanism. The proliferative ability of T or B cells from EAMG rats was inhibited by BMSCs at proper cocultured ratios. And the imbalance of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cell subsets accompanied with the development of EAMG was corrected by the administration of BMSCs. These results provide further insights into the pathogenesis of MG, EAMG, and other immune-mediated diseases, and support a potential role for BMSCs in their treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Body Weight
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / methods*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Coculture Techniques / methods
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
  • Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental / surgery*
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Stromal Cells / immunology
  • Stromal Cells / transplantation*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / classification
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta