Priming of Toll-like receptor 4 pathway in mesenchymal stem cells increases expression of B cell activating factor

Hao Yan, Mengyao Wu, Yan Yuan, Zack Z. Wang, Hua Jiang, Tong Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be polarized into two distinct populations, MSC1 and MSC2, by activation of different Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLR4-primed MSC1 expressed proinflammatory factors, whereas TLR3-primed MSC2 expressed suppressive factors. However, little is known about the function of TLRs on B lymphocyte-related immune modulation. In this study, we investigated the expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF), a member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily with notable stimulating activity on B cells, in human MSCs (hMSCs) and in murine MSCs (mMSCs) after activation of TLRs. BAFF was increasingly expressed in presence of TLR4 agonist (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), while TLR2 agonist (Zymosan) and TLR3-agonist (polyinocinic-polycytidykic acid, poly I:C) had no effect on BAFF expression. In addition, we demonstrated that signaling pathways of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, and JNK were involved in TLR4-primed BAFF expression. Our results suggested that TLR4 and downstream pathways in MSCs exert an important function in B lymphocyte-related immune regulation. Further defining a homogeneous population of MSCs should provide insight into MSC-based immune-modulating therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)212-217
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume448
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 30 2014

Keywords

  • BAFF
  • LPS
  • Mesenchymal stem cell
  • Pro-inflammatory
  • TLR4

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Priming of Toll-like receptor 4 pathway in mesenchymal stem cells increases expression of B cell activating factor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this