Original article

In vitro regulation of IL-6 and TGF-ß by mesenchymal stem cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

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Abstract

Aim: To analyse the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to regulate interleukin 6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor (TGF-?) expression in vitro under co-culture conditions in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Method: This study used a post-test group design that used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SLE patients at Kariadi Hospital, Semarang, Indonesia, and MSCs from a human umbilical cord. The cells were divided into two groups. The control group of PBMCs was treated with a standard medium, and the treatment group was co-cultured with the MSCs at a 1:40 ratio. Following 24 h incubation, the levels of IL-6 and TGF-? released in the culture medium were measured using a specific ELISA assay.

Results: This study showed a significant decrease in IL-6 level (p< 0.05) and a significant increase in TGF-? level (p<0.001) following 24 h of co-culture incubation of human SLE PBMCs cells and MSCs.

Conclusion: The PBMCs-to-MSCs ratio of 1:40 can regulate the IL-6 and TGF-? levels in human SLE PBMCs.

Keywords: autoimmune disease, cytokine dysregulation, immunoregulation, inflammatory disorder

How to Cite:

Darlan, D. M., Munir, D., Jusuf, N. K., Putra, A., Ikhsan, R. & Alif, I., (2020) “In vitro regulation of IL-6 and TGF-ß by mesenchymal stem cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients”, Medicinski glasnik 17(2), 408-413. doi: https://doi.org/10.17392/1186-20