4.7 Article

The therapeutic effects of human embryonic stem cells-derived immunity-and-matrix regulatory cells on membranous nephropathy

Journal

STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
Volume 13, Issue 1, Pages -

Publisher

BMC
DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02917-w

Keywords

Membranous nephropathy; Immunity-and-matrix regulatory cells; Treatment; Regulatory T cells; IL-10

Funding

  1. Natural Science Foundation of China [81870486, 82070732, 82090021]
  2. National Key Research and Development Program [2020YFA0804003]

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The study suggests that human embryonic stem cell-derived immunity-and-matrix regulatory cells have therapeutic effects on primary membranous nephropathy by regulating T cells and IL-10.
Background Primary membranous nephropathy (MN) is a kidney-specific autoimmune disease. Human embryonic stem cells-derived immunity-and-matrix regulatory cells (hESC-IMRCs) have immunoregulatory functions. We hypothesized that hESC-IMRCs might have therapeutic effects on MN and be a potential treatment in clinical practice. Methods Rats of Heymann nephritis were injected with sheep anti-rat Fx1A serum. hESC-IMRCs were intravenously administrated upon the detection of proteinuria, with 6 x 10(6) cells (high-dose) or 3 x 10(6) cells (low-dose) in 1 ml every other day. Splenocytes and IMRCs were co-cultured at different times and ratios. Cell types and cytokines were detected by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The urinary protein of rats with Heymann nephritis was reduced remarkably to a level comparable to negative controls, in both low-dose (45.6 vs. 282.3 mg/d, P < 0.001) and high-dose (35.2 vs. 282.3 mg/d, P < 0.001) hESC-IMRC treatment groups. IgG and C3 deposit, glomerular basement membrane thickness and foot process effacement were alleviated and the reduced podocin was recovered in the kidneys. The proportions of CD4 + CD25 + T cells in circulation and spleen were increased, and the circulating level of IL-10 was increased, after IMRC interventions. IL-17 and TNF-alpha were reduced after IMRCs treatments. IL-10 increased remarkably in the co-culture supernatant of lymphocytes and IMRCs at 48 h with ratio 10:1. Conclusions The intravenously delivered hESC-IMRCs alleviated proteinuria and kidney injuries of Heymann nephritis, by their immunosuppressive functions through regulatory T cells and IL-10. These pre-clinical results indicate that IMRCs worth careful consideration for human trials in the treatment of MN.

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