Induction of macrophage-like immunosuppressive cells from mouse ES cells that contribute to prolong allogeneic graft survival

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 30;9(10):e111826. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111826. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Recent progress in regenerative medicine has enabled the utilization of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) as a donor resource for transplantation. However, immune suppression is still needed when the donor-recipient combination is allogeneic. Protection of ESCs-derived grafts from host immune response might be achieved thought the utilization of immunosuppressive cells generated from ESCs. In the present study, we show that a certain fraction of immunosuppressive cells can be generated from ESCs and help to suppress immune response against allogeneic grafts. ESCs-derived suppressor cells (ES-SCs) resembled macrophages in terms of cell surface molecule and gene expressions. Furthermore, gene expression analysis including microarray showed that ES-SCs have M1/M2 hybrid phenotype with high expression of genes correlated to immunosuppression of T cell response. Indeed, ES-SCs were effective to block allogeneic T cell proliferation in a nitric oxide-dependent manner, and prolonged the survival of ESCs-derived embryoid bodies or cardiomyocytes grafts transplanted into mouse kidney capsule. Thus, we consider the potential use of these ESCs-derived macrophage-like immunosuppressive cells as cellular therapies to promote long-term graft survival in future therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Female
  • Graft Survival / immunology*
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Isoantigens / immunology
  • Macrophages / cytology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / transplantation*
  • Phenotype
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Isoantigens

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by research grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan to HW and KS. This work was also supported in part by the Uehara Memorial Foundation to KS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.