Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Favor the Immunosuppressive T Cells Skewing in a Helicobacter Pylori Model of Gastric Cancer

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) play an important role in Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis. While the mechanism is not well understood, BM-MSCs have been shown to contribute to the immunosuppressive response found in a number of diseases. Here, BM-MSCs were transplanted into the stomach of mice with a 44-week mouse-adapted H. pylori infection. At day 28 post-transplantation, BM-MSCs migrated from the subserosal to the mucosal layer of the stomach. The grafted BM-MSCs significantly stimulated systemic and local interleukin-10 (IL-10)-secreting T cell and regulatory T cell (Treg) functions. This observation was correlated with an increased percentage of CD4(+)IL-10(+) cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) cells in splenic mononuclear cells compared with H. pylori-infected mice not receiving BM-MSCs. Moreover, inhibitory cytokines IL-10 and transforming growth factor-1 increased in the gastric tissue, while there was a decrease in inflammatory interferon- (IFN-). BM-MSC-transplanted mice also developed elevated IL-10/IFN- secreting and Treg/Th17 ratios. A coculture system in the presence or absence of BM-MSCs was also established to evaluate the immune responses in vitro. An increase in IL-10-secreting T cells and Tregs, associated with increased expression of Gata-3 and FoxP3, generation of IL-10 in the supernatant, and proliferation of gastric epithelial cells (GECs) was observed. These findings demonstrate that transplantation of BM-MSCs into a chronic H. pylori-infected mouse model results in the generation of an immunosuppressive environment. The local and systemic immunosuppression mediated by BM-MSCs likely contributed to an environment that is compatible with the development of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer.