The introduction of mesenchymal stromal cells induces different immunological responses in the lungs of healthy and M. tuberculosis infected mice

PLoS One. 2017 Jun 8;12(6):e0178983. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178983. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have strong immunomodulatory properties and therefore can be used to control inflammation and tissue damage. It was suggested recently that MSC injections can be used to treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). However, MSC trafficking and immunomodulatory effects of MSC injections during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection have not been studied. To address this issue we have analyzed MSC distribution in tissues and local immunological effects of MSC injections in Mtb infected and uninfected mice. After intravenous injection, MSC accumulated preferentially in the lungs where they were located as cell aggregates in the alveolar walls. Immunological analysis of MSC effects included detection of activated, IFN-γ and IL-4 producing CD4+ lymphocytes, the frequency analysis of dendritic cells (CD11c+F4/80) and macrophages (CD11c-F4/80+) located in the lungs, the expression of IA/IE and CD11b molecules by these cells, and evaluation of 23 cytokines/chemokines in lung lysates. In the lungs of uninfected mice, MSC transfer markedly increased the percentage of IFN-γ+ CD4+ lymphocytes and dendritic cells, elevated levels of IA/IE expression by dendritic cells and macrophages, augmented local production of type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CXCL1), and downregulated type 1 and hematopoietic cytokines (IL-12p70, IFN-γ, IL-3, IL-6, GM-CSF). Compared to uninfected mice, Mtb infected mice had statistically higher "background" frequency of activated CD69+ and IFN-γ+ CD4+ lymphocytes and dendritic cells, and higher levels of cytokines in the lungs. The injections of MSC to Mtb infected mice did not show statistically significant effects on CD4+ lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages, only slightly shifted cytokine profile, and did not change pathogen load or slow down TB progression. Lung section analysis showed that in Mtb infected mice, MSC could not be found in the proximity of the inflammatory foci. Thus, in healthy recipients, MSC administration dramatically changed T-cell function and cytokine/chemokine milieu in the lungs, most likely, due to capillary blockade. But, during Mtb infection, i.e., in the highly-inflammatory conditions, MSC did not affect T-cell function and the level of inflammation. The findings emphasize the importance of the evaluation of MSC effects locally at the site of their predominant post-injection localization and question MSC usefulness as anti-TB treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL3 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL4 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL5 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / immunology

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Chemokine CCL3
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Chemokine CXCL1
  • Interleukin-5
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Government Contract №14.610.21.0001 of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation RFMEFI61014X0001 (TN), and partially by the Russian Science Foundation, grant # №14-15-00439 (YR) and grant # 15-15-00136 (IL).