Phenotypic and Functional Responses of Human Decidua Basalis Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells to Lipopolysaccharide of Gram-Negative Bacteria

Abstract

Introduction

Human decidua basalis mesenchymal stem cells (DBMSCs) are potential therapeutics for the medication to cure inflammatory diseases, like atherosclerosis. The current study investigates the capacity of DBMSCs to stay alive and function in a harmful inflammatory environment induced by high levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods

DBMSCs were exposed to different levels of LPS, and their viability and functional responses (proliferation, adhesion, and migration) were examined. Furthermore, DBMSCs’ expression of 84 genes associated with their functional activities in the presence of LPS was investigated.

Results

Results indicated that LPS had no significant effect on DBMSCs’ adhesion, migration, and proliferation (24 h and 72 h) (p > 0.05). However, DBMSCs’ proliferation was significantly reduced at 10 µg/mL of LPS at 48 h (p < 0.05). In addition, inflammatory cytokines and receptors related to adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation were significantly overexpressed when DBMSCs were treated with 10 µg/mL of LPS (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These results indicated that DBMSCs maintained their functional activities (proliferation, adhesion, and migration) in the presence of LPS as there was no variation between the treated DBMSCs and the control group. This study will lay the foundation for future preclinical and clinical studies to confirm the appropriateness of DBMSCs as a potential medication to cure inflammatory diseases, like atherosclerosis.

Keywords:

• placenta
• endothelial cells
• proliferation
• adhesion
• migration
• real-time PCR

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, through the Pioneer Researcher Funding Program (Grant No# PR-1441-4) and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center for providing the supervion and facilities to support the study.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.