Controlled induction of immune tolerance by mesenchymal stem cells transferred by maternal microchimerism

Feto-maternal immune tolerance is established during pregnancy; however, its mechanism and maintenance remain underexplored. Here, we investigated whether mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) as non-inherited maternal antigens (NIMAs) transferred by maternal microchimerism could induce immune tolerance. We showed that MSCs had a potential equivalent to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to induce immune tolerance and that MSCs were essential to induce tolerance to MSC-specific antigens. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MSCs as NIMAs transferred by maternal microchimerism could induce robust immune tolerance that can be further enhanced using a drug. Our data shed light on induction of immune tolerance and serve as a foundation to develop new therapies using maternally derived cells for autoimmune or genetic diseases. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

The study found that mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) transferred by maternal microchimerism have the potential to induce immune tolerance, which can be further enhanced with drug therapy. This research provides insights into immune tolerance induction and paves the way for developing new therapies for autoimmune or genetic diseases using maternally derived cells.