Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells exert in vitro immunomodulatory and beta cell protective functions in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model

Regenerative and immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (mscs) might be applied for type 1 diabetes mellitus (t1dm) treatment. thus,we proposed in vitro assessment of adipose tissue-derived mscs (at-mscs) immunomodulation on autoimmune response along with beta cell protection in streptozotocin- (stz-) induced diabetic c57bl/6 mice model. mscs were extracted from abdominal adipose tissue of normal mice and cultured to proliferate. diabetic mice were prepared by administration of multiple low-doses of streptozotocin. pancreatic islets were isolated from normal mice and splenocytes prepared from normal and diabetic mice. proliferation,cytokine production,and insulin secretion assays were performed in coculture experiments. at-mscs inhibited splenocytes proliferative response to specific (islet lysate) and nonspecific (pha) triggers in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines,such as ifn-γ,il-2,and il-17,and increased secretion of regulatory cytokines such as tgf-β,il-4,il-10,and il-13 by stimulated splenocytes were also shown in response to islet lysate or pha stimulants (p < 0.05). finally,we demonstrated that at-mscs could effectively sustain viability as well as insulin secretion potential of pancreatic islets in the presence of reactive splenocytes (p < 0.05). in conclusion,it seems that mscs may provide a new horizon for t1dm cell therapy and islet transplantation in the future. © 2015 hossein rahavi et al.