Immunomodulatory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on T lymphocytes in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

We explored the immunomodulatory effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients with decompensation stage, hepatitis B-associated cirrhosis.MSCs from nine patients were analyzed by flow cytometry.Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated for fluorescent staining.Following stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), peripheral blood lymphocytes were co-cultured with BMSCs in serum and divided into four groups: (1) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA contact culture group;(2) BMSC + lymphocyte + PHA non-contact culture group; (3) lymphocyte + PHA positive control group; and (4) lymphocyte-only negative control group.Lymphocyte proliferation and frequencies of CD4 + CD25 + CD127 -Tregs and CD4 + CD8 -IL-17 + (Th17) cells were detected.Cell proliferation in groups 1 and 2 declined compared with group 3 (P < 0.01), and was notably higher than in group 4 (P < 0.01).CD4 + CD25 + CD127 -Tregs frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in groups 3 and 4. In an intra-group comparison before and after culture, Th17 cell frequencies in groups 1 and 2 were higher than in group 4 (P < 0.01), but lower than in group 3 (P < 0.01).The Treg/Th17 ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.brGenetics and Molecular Research 14 (2): 7039-7046 (2015) ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased (P < 0.01), but did not change significantly in groups 3 and 4 (P > 0.05).In a comparison between groups after culture, the Treg/Th17 ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased more than in groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.01).BMSCs from cirrhotic patients can inhibit the proliferation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes, upregulate the expression of CD4 + CD25 + CD127 -Tregs, and improve Treg/Th17 imbalance.The mechanism by which this takes place may be associated with immunomodulatory effects induced by the secretion of soluble factors.