Mesenchymal stem cells inhibit MRP-8/14 expression and neutrophil migration via TSG-6 in the treatment of lupus nephritis

Abnormal infiltration and activation of neutrophils play a pathogenic role in the development of lupus nephritis (LN). Myeloid-related proteins (MRPs), MRP-8 and -14, also known as the damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), are mainly secreted by activated neutrophils in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regulate a variety of immune cells to treat LN, but it is not clear whether MSCs can regulate neutrophils and the expression of MRP-8/14 in LN. Here, we demonstrated that neutrophil infiltration and MRP-8/14 expression were increased in the kidney of MRL/lpr mice and both decreased after MSCs transplantation. Further, the results showed that tumor necrosis factor- (TNF) stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) in MSCs is necessary for MSCs to inhibit MRP-8/14 expression in neutrophils and neutrophil migration. In addition, small-molecule immunosuppressant had no significant effect on the expression of MRP-8/14 in neutrophils. Therefore, our results suggest that MSCs inhibited MRP-8/14 expression and neutrophil migration by secreting TSG-6 in the treatment of LN. •Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) transplantation alleviates lupus nephritis (LN).•Neutrophil infiltration and MRP-8/14 expression increased in the kidney of MRL/lpr mice and both decreased after MSCs transplantation.•TSG-6 in MSCs is necessary for MSCs to inhibit MRP-8/14 expression in neutrophils and neutrophil migration.•Small-molecule immunosuppressant had no significant effect on the expression of MRP-8/14 in neutrophils.•This is the first report of MSCs regulating neutrophils in LN.