Humoral factors secreted from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice.

Abstract

AIMS:

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the vasculature. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects by secreting humoral factors; however, the intravascular MSC administration presents a risk of vascular occlusion. Here, we investigated both the effect of conditioned medium from cultured MSCs (MSC-CM) on atherosclerosis and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/-) mice were fed a high-fat diet and received intravenous injections of either MSC-CM from adipose tissue-derived MSCs or control medium 2×/week for 13 weeks. MSC-CM treatment decreased the atherosclerotic plaque area in the aorta and aortic root of Ldlr-/- mice by 41% and 30%, respectively, with no change in serum lipoprotein levels. Histopathologically, the MSC-CM treatment decreased the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and the accumulation of macrophages on the vascular walls. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and supernatant (MSC-CM supernatant) were separated from the MSC-CM by ultracentrifugation. In tumour necrosis factor-α stimulated human aortic endothelial cells (HAOECs), both the MSC EVs and MSC-CM supernatant decreased CAM expression by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) pathways. In macrophages, the MSC-CM supernatant decreased the lipopolysaccharide-induced increases in M1 marker expression by inhibiting both the MAPK and NFκB pathways and increased the expression of M2 markers by activating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. In co-culture, inflamed HAOECs pretreated with MSC-CM supernatant and MSC EVs exhibited decreased monocyte adhesion to HAOECs. In addition, the neutralization of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in MSC-CM or MSC-CM supernatant attenuated their abilities to suppress monocyte adhesion to HAOECs in co-culture.

CONCLUSION:

MSC-CM ameliorated atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice and suppressed CAM expression and macrophage accumulation in the vascular walls. Humoral factors, including HGF and EVs from MSCs, hold promise as therapeutic agents to reduce the residual risk of coronary artery diseases.

• Authors: Yoshimasa Takafuji, Mika Hori, Toshihide Mizuno, Mariko Harada-Shiba
• Journal: Cardiovascular research (Cardiovasc Res) Vol. 115 Issue 6 Pg. 1041-1051 (05 01 2019) ISSN: 1755-3245 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30388208 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2018. For permissions, please email: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Culture Media, Conditioned
• Cytokines
• HGF protein, mouse
• Inflammation Mediators
• Receptors, LDL
• Hepatocyte Growth Factor

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (cytology)
• Animals
• Aorta (metabolism, pathology)
• Aortic Diseases (genetics, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Atherosclerosis (genetics, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (metabolism)
• Cells, Cultured
• Coculture Techniques
• Culture Media, Conditioned (metabolism)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Diet, High-Fat
• Disease Models, Animal
• Endothelial Cells (metabolism, pathology)
• Extracellular Vesicles (metabolism)
• Hepatocyte Growth Factor (metabolism)
• Humans
• Inflammation Mediators (metabolism)
• Macrophages (metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (metabolism)
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Paracrine Communication
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic
• Receptors, LDL (deficiency, genetics)
• Signal Transduction