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Updated: May 18, 2026

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
Immune protection function of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells: role of transforming growth factor-β1
Zhi-Gang Zhao1, Zeng Cao, Wen Xu
1Department of Hematology and Oncology, the Oncology Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China. zhao dor001@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract:
The immunosuppressive functions of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) may give cancer cells a survival advantage. This study tests the hypothesis that MSCs protect leukemia cells from immune clearance. Our results demonstrate that MSCs are capable of inhibiting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) proliferation and their migration toward leukemic cells by the reduction of CCL5 and CXCL12. In addition, we find that MSCs can inhibit the cytolytic functions of NK-cells and CTLs. TGF-β1 secreted by MSCs is responsible for impaired CTLs and NK function by down-modulating surface NKG2D expression. These inhibitory functions of MSCs have negative effects on the CTLs or NK-mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GVL), particularly in the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation setting.
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