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Published on: May 4, 2018
Tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells exert immunosuppressive effects on T cells
Antun Bačić1, Drago Prgomet, Saša Janjanin
1Antun Bačić, Clinical Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Merkur University Hospital, Zajčeva 19, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia, antunbacic@gmail.com.
Aim:
To assess the immunomodulatory effect of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on T-lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production.
Methods:
Tonsils were obtained from children aged 3 to 12 years (n=15) who underwent tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea from April 2012-October 2014 at the Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb. Tonsil-derived MSCs were co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and phytohemagglutinin as a mitogen. PBMCs were induced to differentiate into T helper 1 or T helper 2 cells in the presence or absence of tonsil-derived MSCs, after which the production of interferon-gamma in T helper 1 and interleukin-4 in T helper 2 cells was assessed.
Results:
Tonsil-derived MSC suppressed phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation of PBMCs. Compared with controls, tonsil-derived MSC co-culture significantly decreased interferon-gamma production (P<0.001) and increased interleukin-4 production (P<0.001).
Conclusion:
Tonsil-derived MSCs exert immunomodulatory effects on T lymphocyte proliferation and T helper 1- and T helper 2-specific cytokine production.
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