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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this work was to isolate, expand mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow (BM), and assess the immunomodulation potential of MSCs on T lymphocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Background MSCs are multipotent adult stem cells present in all tissues. They are present in the BM, and possess remarkable immunomodulation properties that can inhibit the proliferation and function of the major immune cell populations. These unique properties make MSCs ideal candidates for clinical application in autoimmune diseases (e.g., RA). Patients and methods MSCs were cultured from BM aspirate and detected morphologically; peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (MNCs) were separated from 30 RA patients and co-culture of BM-MSCs and PB-MNCs were set up. The sample groups were divided into the following groups: group 1, PB MNC culture without phytohemagglutinin (PHA) (negative control); group 2, PB MNC culture with PHA at a concentration of 10 μg/ml; and group 3, PB mononuclear culture with PHA and MSCs. The lymphocytes were harvested and their CD4+ and CD8+ were analyzed by means of flowcytometry. Results The results of this study showed a statistically highly significant difference between percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes cultured with PHA and percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes cultured without PHA (P < 0.001). There was also a statistically highly significant difference between percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte cultured without MSCs and percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes cultured with MSCs, being lower in culture with MSCs (P < 0.001). Conclusion MSCs have immunomodulatory effect on T lymphocytes of RA patients.

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