Background/Purpose:  Previous clinical data has shown that transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) could effectively alleviate the disease symptoms in both patients with active and refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although MSCs isolated from different tissues were reported to possess immunomodulatory functions, it remains unknown whether they have comparable therapeutic effects in treating SLE patients. Here, employing the SLE mouse model, we assessed and compared the abilities of human UC-MSC, amniotic fluid MSC (AF-MSC), periodontal ligament stem cell (pDLSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) to treat SLE mouse model.

Methods: SLE-like B6.lpr mice were administered MSCs intravenously at age 25 weeks, while the control group received fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). All mice were sacrificed at age 35 weeks. Anti-dsDNA antibody and ANA in the plasma were determined by ELISA. The frequencies of Th1, Th2, Treg, Th17, Tfh, Tfr and plasma cells were determined by flow cytometry. The pathology of kidney was analyzed by H&E and anti-IgG/IgM/C3 immunofluorescence.

Results:  We found that all the four kinds of MSCs could significantly ameliorate the pathology of lupus nephritis and serological changes in B6.lpr mice. However, mice treated with UC-MSC and DPSCs prolonged the life span better than AF-MSC and pDLSCs. The concentration of anti-dsDNA antibody was reduced, especially in UC-MSC and DPSCs treated mice. The percentages of Th1 cells reduced after MSCs transplantation except AF-MSC treated group. The proportion of Treg only increased in UC-MSC treated group.

Conclusion:   UC-MSC might be the optimum choice for SLE treatment.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/human-mesenchymal-stem-cells-from-different-tissues-exert-distinct-therapeutic-effect-on-systemic-lupus-erythematosus/