Amniotic membrane extract differentially regulates human peripheral blood T cell subsets, monocyte subpopulations and myeloid dendritic cells

The discovery of the immunoregulatory potential of human amniotic membrane (hAM) propelled several studies focusing on its application for the treatment of immunological disorders. However, there is little information regarding the effects of hAM on distinct activation and differentiation stages of immune cells. Here, we aim to investigate the effect of human amniotic membrane extract (hAME) on the pattern of cytokine production by T cells, monocytes and myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs). For this purpose, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from eight healthy individuals were stimulated in vitro in the presence or absence of hAME. Mitogen-induced proliferation of PBMCs and cytokine production among the distinct T cell functional compartments, monocyte subpopulations and mDCs were evaluated. hAME displayed an anti-proliferative effect and decreased the frequency of T cells producing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, interferon (IFN)gamma and interleukin (IL)-2, for all T cell functional compartments. The frequency of IL-17 and IL-9-producing T cells was also reduced. The inhibition of mRNA expression of granzyme B, perforin and NKG2D by CD8(+) T cells and gamma delta T cells and the augment of FoxP3 and IL-10 in CD4(+) T cells and IL-10 in regulatory T cells were also observed. Furthermore, hAME inhibited IFN gamma-induced protein (IP)-10 expression by classical and non-classical monocytes, without hampering the production of TNF alpha and IL-6 by monocytes and mDCs. These results suggest that hAME exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on T cells, still at a different extent for distinct T cell functional compartments.