Galectin-1 is a local but not systemic immunomodulatory factor in mesenchymal stromal cells.

Fajka-Boja, Roberta and Suhajdáné Urbán, Veronika and Szebeni, Gábor and Czibula, Ágnes and Blaskó, Andrea and Kriston-Pál, Éva and Makra, Ildikó and Hornung, Ákos and Szabó, Enikő and Than, Nándor Gábor and Monostori, Éva (2016) Galectin-1 is a local but not systemic immunomodulatory factor in mesenchymal stromal cells. CYTOTHERAPY, 18 (3). pp. 360-370. ISSN 1465-3249

Text Fajka_Boja2016Galectin_1_is_alocal_but_not_systemic_immun_u.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

BACKGROUND AIMS: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have powerful immunosuppressive activity. This function of MSCs is attributed to plethora of the expressed immunosuppressive factors, such as galectin-1 (Gal-1), a pleiotropic lectin with robust anti-inflammatory effect. Nevertheless, whether Gal-1 renders or contributes to the immunosuppressive effect of MSCs has not been clearly established. Therefore, this question was the focus of a complex study. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from bone marrows of wild-type and Gal-1 knockout mice and their in vitro anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on activated T cells were examined. The in vivo immunosuppressive activity was tested in murine models of type I diabetes and delayed-type hypersensitivity. RESULTS: Both Gal-1-expressing and -deficient MSCs inhibited T-cell proliferation. Inhibition of T-cell proliferation by MSCs was mediated by nitric oxide but not PD-L1 or Gal-1. In contrast, MSC-derived Gal-1 triggered apoptosis in activated T cells that were directly coupled to MSCs, representing a low proportion of the T-cell population. Furthermore, absence of Gal-1 in MSCs did not affect their in vivo immunosuppressive effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results serve as evidence that Gal-1 does not play a role in the systemic immunosuppressive effect of MSCs. However, a local contribution of Gal-1 to modulation of T-cell response by direct cell-to-cell interaction cannot be excluded. Notably, this study serves a good model to understand how the specificity of a pleiotropic protein depends on the type and localization of the producing effector cell and its target.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item