TY - JOUR
T1 - Down-regulation of MHC-II in mesenchymal stem cells at high IFN-γ can be partly explained by cytoplasmic retention of CIITA
AU - Tang, Katherine C.
AU - Trzaska, Katarzyna A.
AU - Smirnov, Sergey V.
AU - Kotenko, Sergei V.
AU - Schwander, Stephan K.
AU - Ellner, Jerrold J.
AU - Rameshwar, Pranela
PY - 2008/2/1
Y1 - 2008/2/1
N2 - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are located in postnatal bone marrow, show plasticity, are linked to various bone marrow disorders, exhibit phagocytosis, exert Ag-presenting properties (APC), and are immune suppressive. Unlike professional APCs, MSCs respond bimodally to IFN-γ in MHC-II expression, with expression at 10 U/ml and baseline, and down-regulation at 100 U/ml. The effects at high IFN-γ could not be explained by down-regulation of its receptor, IFN-γRI. In this study, we report on the mechanisms by which IFN-γ regulates MHC-II expression in MSCs. Gel shift assay and Western blot analyses showed dose-dependent increases in activated STAT-1, indicating responsiveness by IFN-γRI. Western blots showed decreased intracellular MHC-II, which could not be explained by decreased transcription of the master regulator CIITA, based on RT-PCR and in situ immunofluorescence. Reporter gene assays with PIII and PIV CIITA promoters indicate constitutive expression of PIII in MSCs and a switch to PIV by IFN-γ, indicating the presence of factors for effect promoter responses. We explained decreased MHC-II at the level of transcription because CIITA protein was observed in the cytosol and not in nuclei at high IFN-γ level. The proline/serine/threonine region of CIITA showed significant decrease in phosphorylation at high IFN-γ levels. An understanding of the bimodal effects could provide insights on bone marrow homeostasis, which could be extrapolated to MSC dysfunction in hematological disorders.
AB - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are located in postnatal bone marrow, show plasticity, are linked to various bone marrow disorders, exhibit phagocytosis, exert Ag-presenting properties (APC), and are immune suppressive. Unlike professional APCs, MSCs respond bimodally to IFN-γ in MHC-II expression, with expression at 10 U/ml and baseline, and down-regulation at 100 U/ml. The effects at high IFN-γ could not be explained by down-regulation of its receptor, IFN-γRI. In this study, we report on the mechanisms by which IFN-γ regulates MHC-II expression in MSCs. Gel shift assay and Western blot analyses showed dose-dependent increases in activated STAT-1, indicating responsiveness by IFN-γRI. Western blots showed decreased intracellular MHC-II, which could not be explained by decreased transcription of the master regulator CIITA, based on RT-PCR and in situ immunofluorescence. Reporter gene assays with PIII and PIV CIITA promoters indicate constitutive expression of PIII in MSCs and a switch to PIV by IFN-γ, indicating the presence of factors for effect promoter responses. We explained decreased MHC-II at the level of transcription because CIITA protein was observed in the cytosol and not in nuclei at high IFN-γ level. The proline/serine/threonine region of CIITA showed significant decrease in phosphorylation at high IFN-γ levels. An understanding of the bimodal effects could provide insights on bone marrow homeostasis, which could be extrapolated to MSC dysfunction in hematological disorders.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 18209080
AN - SCOPUS:40749120556
SN - 0022-1767
VL - 180
SP - 1826
EP - 1833
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
IS - 3
ER -