Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells favor the immunosuppressive T cells skewing in a Helicobacter pylori model of gastric cancer

Stem Cells Dev. 2013 Nov 1;22(21):2836-48. doi: 10.1089/scd.2013.0166. Epub 2013 Aug 16.

Abstract

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) play an important role in Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis. While the mechanism is not well understood, BM-MSCs have been shown to contribute to the immunosuppressive response found in a number of diseases. Here, BM-MSCs were transplanted into the stomach of mice with a 44-week mouse-adapted H. pylori infection. At day 28 post-transplantation, BM-MSCs migrated from the subserosal to the mucosal layer of the stomach. The grafted BM-MSCs significantly stimulated systemic and local interleukin-10 (IL-10)-secreting T cell and regulatory T cell (Treg) functions. This observation was correlated with an increased percentage of CD4⁺IL-10⁺ cells and CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ cells in splenic mononuclear cells compared with H. pylori-infected mice not receiving BM-MSCs. Moreover, inhibitory cytokines IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β1 increased in the gastric tissue, while there was a decrease in inflammatory interferon-γ (IFN-γ). BM-MSC-transplanted mice also developed elevated IL-10/IFN-γ secreting and Treg/Th17 ratios. A coculture system in the presence or absence of BM-MSCs was also established to evaluate the immune responses in vitro. An increase in IL-10-secreting T cells and Tregs, associated with increased expression of Gata-3 and FoxP3, generation of IL-10 in the supernatant, and proliferation of gastric epithelial cells (GECs) was observed. These findings demonstrate that transplantation of BM-MSCs into a chronic H. pylori-infected mouse model results in the generation of an immunosuppressive environment. The local and systemic immunosuppression mediated by BM-MSCs likely contributed to an environment that is compatible with the development of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / immunology
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Gastric Mucosa / cytology
  • Gastric Mucosa / immunology
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / immunology
  • Helicobacter Infections / immunology*
  • Helicobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Helicobacter pylori / immunology
  • Helicobacter pylori / physiology
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / microbiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Gata3 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interferon-gamma