Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from infrapatellar fat pad of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis have comparable immunomodulatory properties

Abstract

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) possess immunosuppressive properties, but their activity is dependent on stimuli provided by local environment. It is possible that proinflammatory milieu of rheumatoid joint affects ASCs function. To verify this hypothesis, rheumatoid ASCs (RA-ASCs) and osteoarthritic ASCs (OA-ASCs) derived from infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) of the knee joint have been compared. RA- and OA-ASCs isolated from patients were cultured in vitro. Their secretory and proliferative activity was measured. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors were co-cultured with ASCs. Then, PBMCs proliferation was measured by ³H-thymidine incorporation method, cytokines secretion by immunoassays, T cells activation and regulatory T cells (Tregs) percentage – by flow cytometry. RA- and OA-ASCs properties in vitro were comparable, however, some differences in secretory activity occurred. RA- and OA-ASCs inhibited PBMCs proliferation and induced interleukin 10 production but up-regulated interleukin 17 A secretion and failed to limit release of other proinflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor [TNF], interferon γ [IFNγ], CCL5) by PBMCs. RA- and OA-ASCs did not suppress activation markers expression on T cells and did not trigger Tregs expansion. The present study shows that IPFP-ASCs from RA and OA patients have comparable functions in vitro. Their immunosuppressive activity seems to be impaired comparing to available data.

• Human adipose-derived stem cells
• infrapatellar fat pad
• immunosuppression
• osteoarthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Paweł Małdyk from Rheumoortopaedic Clinic of the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw and his patients for providing adipose tissue for this study. We thank Tomasz Burakowski, Iwona Janicka, Anna Kornatka and Urszula Musiałowicz for helping us in the laboratory work.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. Both the authors are employed in the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw, Poland. This work was supported by the Polish National Science Centre [grant no. 2011/01/N/NZ5/00932] and by the European Union funds (European Social Fund, Human Capital Programme).