Immunomodulatory Effects of Mouse Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells is Strain-dependent

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are mesoderm-derived stromal cells that are capable of differentiating in vitro and in vivo to mesenchymal lineages. Several recent reports have demonstrated that MSCs have immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive effects on many immune cells. Since the selection of ideal stem cell is apparently crucial for the outcome of experimental stem cell therapies. Materials and Methods: In this study we compared cytokines, NO, and IDO production and immunomodulatory effects of adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) isolated from BALB/c, C57BL/6 and DBA mouse strains. Results: No significant difference was found in the morphology, cell surface markers, in vitro differentiation and proliferation potentials of AD-MSCs isolated from C57BL/6, BALB/c and DBA mice. The immunological assays showed some variation among the strains in the cytokines, NO, and IDO production and immunomodulatory effects on splenocytes functions. Our results indicated that BALB/c conditioned media exerted a higher suppression of splenocytes proliferation. AD-MSCs isolated from C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice produced higher levels of TGF- beta than those from DBA mice. Furthermore, IL-17 and IDO production was higher in AD-MSCs isolated from BALB/c mice. Our results indicated an increased production of TGF- beta , IL-4, IL-10, NO and IDO production by splenocytes in response to conditioned media from BALB/c AD-MSCs. Conclusion: Our results showed that the immunomodulatory properties of mouse adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells is strain-dependent.