Remyelination Is Correlated with Regulatory T Cell Induction Following Human Embryoid Body-Derived Neural Precursor Cell Transplantation in a Viral Model of Multiple Sclerosis

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 16;11(6):e0157620. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157620. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

We have recently described sustained clinical recovery associated with dampened neuroinflammation and remyelination following transplantation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in a viral model of the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. The hNPCs used in that study were derived by a novel direct differentiation method (direct differentiation, DD-NPCs) that resulted in a unique gene expression pattern when compared to hNPCs derived by conventional methods. Since the therapeutic potential of human NPCs may differ greatly depending on the method of derivation and culture, we wanted to determine whether NPCs differentiated using conventional methods would be similarly effective in improving clinical outcome under neuroinflammatory demyelinating conditions. For the current study, we utilized hNPCs differentiated from a human induced pluripotent cell line via an embryoid body intermediate stage (EB-NPCs). Intraspinal transplantation of EB-NPCs into mice infected with the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV) resulted in decreased accumulation of CD4+ T cells in the central nervous system that was concomitant with reduced demyelination at the site of injection. Dampened neuroinflammation and remyelination was correlated with a transient increase in CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) concentrated within the peripheral lymphatics. However, compared to our earlier study, pathological improvements were modest and did not result in significant clinical recovery. We conclude that the genetic signature of NPCs is critical to their effectiveness in this model of viral-induced neurologic disease. These comparisons will be useful for understanding what factors are critical for the sustained clinical improvement.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • CD4 Antigens / genetics
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / methods
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Embryoid Bodies / cytology
  • Embryoid Bodies / immunology*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Gene Expression
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / immunology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / pathology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / therapy*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / virology
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / therapy
  • Murine hepatitis virus / growth & development
  • Murine hepatitis virus / pathogenicity
  • Myelin Sheath / immunology
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / immunology
  • Neural Stem Cells / transplantation*
  • Organ Specificity
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CD4 Antigens
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse