Immunoregulatory effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the nasal polyp microenvironment

Mediators Inflamm. 2014:2014:583409. doi: 10.1155/2014/583409. Epub 2014 Feb 13.

Abstract

Nasal polyposis is a severe, chronic inflammatory condition of the paranasal sinuses and is frequently associated with asthma and aspirin sensitivity. Mesenchymal stem cells exhibit a potent immunosuppressive effect in several inflammatory conditions, and their role in nasal polyposis remains little explored. Hence, we investigated whether bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells could modulate cell phenotype in the nasal polyp milieu. After coculture with mesenchymal stem cells, the frequency of these inflammatory cells was found to decrease. Furthermore, mesenchymal stem cells promoted strong inhibition of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation, increased the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 T cells, and changed the global cytokine profile from an inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory response. We believe that mesenchymal stem cells may be a very useful adjunct for investigation of the inflammatory process in nasal polyposis, contributing to better understanding of the inflammatory course of this condition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Nasal Polyps / immunology*
  • Nasal Polyps / pathology*
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors