Suppressive effect mediated by human adipose-derived stem cells on T cells involves the activation of JNK

Adipose‑derived stem cells (ADSCs) have an immunomodulatory role in vascularized composite tissue allo‑transplantation (VCA). However, the specific effects of ADSCs on lymphocytes remain to be fully elucidated. The present study examined the changes in T cells co‑cultured with ADSCs in terms of the proliferation by Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay, cell cycle profile and apoptosis by flow cytometry, inflammatory cytokine production by polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, in addition to the expression of survival proteins by western blotting. The ADSCs reduced the viability of Jurkat T cells and downregulated the transcription of tumor necrosis factor‑α and transforming growth factor‑β1. Co‑culture with ADSCs also induced apoptosis and increased the levels of phosphorylated c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase in the T cells. Taken together, these findings confirmed that ADSCs modulate the host immune response by suppressing T cells.