BMSCs improve TNBS-induced colitis in rats by inducing Treg differentiation by expressing PD-L1

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) show promise in treating inflammatory bowel disease. We tested if BMSCs improve Trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis by inducing Treg differentiation by modulating programmed cell death 1 ligand 1(PD-L1).

BMSCs were isolated and transfected with PD-L1 siRNA. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal, model, BMSC control, and PD-L1 siRNA BMSC. Colitis was induced by TNBS, except in the normal group. On d4, the BMSC control and PD-L1 siRNA BMSC groups were intravenously injected with BMSCs at a dose of 5 × 10⁶ cells in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; volume matched). BMSCs were later verified to have reached the colon tissue. BMSC control showed significantly better clinical symptoms and reduced histopathological colitis severity; PD-L1 siRNA BMSC group showed no difference. PD-L1 siRNA reduced: spleen and mesenteric lymph node Tregs, PD-L1, interleukin-10 (IL10), phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN); colon p-Akt and p-mTOR were increased.

We found that BMSCs can induce Treg differentiation by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR pathway via PD-L1; this significantly improved symptoms and pathology in our ulcerative colitis rat models.