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Updated: May 16, 2026

Assessment of the Immunomodulatory Properties of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)
Published on: December 24, 2015
Mesenchymal stem cells support proliferation and terminal differentiation of B cells
Yue Ru Ji1, Zhou Xin Yang, Zhi-Bo Han
1The State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Hospital of Blood Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union of Medical College, Tianjin, China.
Background:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) play important roles in modulating the activities of T lymphocytes, dendritic cells and natural killer cells. These immunoregulatory properties of MSC suggest their therapeutic potential in autoimmune diseases. However, the effects of MSC on B cells are still poorly understood. The present study was designed to investigate the interaction between MSC and B cells both in vitro and in vivo, and to determine the possible mechanism of action.
Design And Method:
The effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) on proliferation and differentiation of B-cells were characterized in vitro, and we also tested the immunoregulatory properties of mouse bone marrow MSC (BM-MSC) on T cell dependent and independent antibody production in vivo in mice.
Results:
Treatment with human UC-MSC resulted in an increase of proliferation, differentiation of B cells into plasma cells and production of antibodies in vitro. Mouse BM-MSC significantly enhanced T cell dependent and independent antibodies production in vivo in mice. PGE2 partially mediated the immunosuppressive activity of human UC-MSC but IL-6 did not regulate this activity.
Conclusion:
MSC promote proliferation and differentiation of B cells in vitro and in vivo partially through PGE2 but not IL-6.
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