Changes in Cytokine Gene Expression Levels in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Macrophages During Their Joint Cultivation

Objective: to determine the spontaneous and induced level of cytokine gene expression in mesenchymal stromal cells (MScs) and macrophages during their joint cultivation as a model for studying the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stromal cells. Materials and methods. C57Bl/6 cell cultures of laboratory mice were analyzed: isolated short-term intact cultures of mesenchymal stromal cells and macrophages were studied as control groups. The cultures of mesenchymal stromal cells and peritoneal macrophages at their joint cultivation under conditions of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide stimulation in concentrations of 1 and 5 µg/ml acted as experimental groups. Results. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the value of normalized expression of TNF-α and IL-1β genes between control groups and groups of mesenchymal stromal cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in concentrations of 1 and 5 µg/ml were found, which indicates differences in spontaneous and mitogen-induced production of biologically active mediators. Conclusion. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) were found, which were characterized by a decrease in the normalized expression of TNF-α and IL-1β genes between the control groups (intact MSc cultures and peritoneal macrophages) and the groups of MSc stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in concentrations of 1 and 5 µg/ml. The studies performed allow us to propose mesenchymal stromal cells and macrophages as cells that regulate the immune response in diseases associated with the risk of chronization of the inflammatory process. In the long term, the results of the study will be used to create a model that allows extrapolating in vitro conditions to the processes occurring in the inflammation zone in a living organism.

mesenchymal stromal cells, macrophages, cytokines