Aims/hypothesis Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can exert an immunosuppressive effect on any component of the immune system, including dendritic cells (DCs), by direct contact, the release of soluble markers and extracellular vesicles (EVs). We evaluated whether MSCs and MSC-derived EVs have an immunomodulatory effect on monocyte-derived DCs in type 1 diabetes. Methods Bone marrow derived MSCs were characterised and EVs were obtained by ultracentrifugation. DCs were differentiated from CD14 + cells, obtained from nine type 1 diabetic patients at disease onset, pulsed with antigen GAD65 and cultured with MSCs or EVs. Levels of DC maturation and activation markers were evaluated by flow cytometry. GAD65-pulsed DCs and autologous CD14− cell were cocultured and IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot responses were assayed. Secreted cytokine levels were measured and Th17 and regulatory T cells were analysed.Results MSC-and EV-conditioned DCs acquired an immature phenotype with reduced levels of activation markers and increased IL-10 and IL-6 production. Conditioned DC plus T cell co-cultures showed significantly decreased IFN-γ spots and secretion levels. Moreover, higher levels of TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-6 were detected compared with unconditioned DC plus T cell co-cultures. Conditioned DCs decreased Th17 cell numbers and IL-17 levels, and increased FOXP3 + regulatory T cell numbers. EVs were internalised by DCs and EV-conditioned DCs exhibited a similar effect. Conclusions/interpretation In type 1 diabetes, MSCs induce immature IL-10-secreting DCs in vitro, thus potentially intercepting the priming and amplification of autoreactive T cells in tissue inflammation. These DCs can contribute to the inhibition of inflammatory T cell responses to islet antigens and the promotion of the anti-inflammatory, regulatory responses exerted by MSCs.

These results provide evidence that MSC-derived MVs can inhibit in vitro a proinflammatory response to an islet antigenic stimulus in type 1 diabetes. The action of MVs involves PGE2 and TGF-β signalling pathways and IL-10 secretion, suggesting a switch to an anti-inflammatory response of T cells.

Aims/hypothesisPancreatic islet microendothelium exhibits unique features in interdependent relationship with beta cells. Gastrointestinal products of the ghrelin gene, acylated ghrelin (AG), unacylated ghrelin (UAG) and obestatin (Ob), and the incretin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), prevent apoptosis of pancreatic beta cells. We investigated whether the ghrelin gene products and the GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4) display survival effects in human pancreatic islet microendothelial cells (MECs) exposed to chronic hyperglycaemia.MethodsIslet MECs were cultured in high glucose concentration and treated with AG, UAG, Ob or Ex-4. Apoptosis was assessed by DNA fragmentation, Hoechst staining of the nuclei and caspase-3 activity. Western blot analyses and pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)1/2 pathways, detection of intracellular cAMP levels and blockade of adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signalling were performed. Levels of NO, IL-1β and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A in cell culture supernatant fractions were measured.ResultsIslet MECs express the ghrelin receptor GHS-R1A as well as GLP-1R. Treatment with AG, UAG, Ob and Ex-4 promoted cell survival and significantly inhibited glucose-induced apoptosis, through activation of PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and intracellular cAMP increase. Moreover, peptides upregulated B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and downregulated BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX) and CD40 ligand (CD40L) production, and significantly reduced the secretion of NO, IL-1β and VEGF-A.Conclusions/interpretationThe ghrelin gene-derived peptides and Ex-4 exert cytoprotective effects in islet MECs. The anti-apoptotic effects involve phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, ERK1/2 and cAMP/PKA pathways. These peptides could therefore represent a potential tool to improve islet vascularisation and, indirectly, islet cell function.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-011-2423-y) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

We previously have shown that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) modulates the biological activity of extracellular vesicles released by adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC-EVs). ASC-EVs may interact with blood and vessel cells by transferring proteins and nucleic acids and regulate their functions. In this study, we investigated immunomodulatory activity and protection from acute hindlimb ischemia of EVs released by PDGF-stimulated ASC (PDGF-EVs). PDGF treatment of ASC changed protein and RNA composition of released EVs by enhancing the expression of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory factors. In vitro, control EVs (cEVs) derived from non-stimulated ASC increased the secretion of both the IL-1b, IL-17, IFNγ, TNFα pro-inflammatory factors and the IL-10 anti-inflammatory factor, and enhanced the in vitro peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) adhesion on endothelium. In contrast, PDGF-EVs enhanced IL-10 secretion and induced TGF-β1 secretion by PBMC. Moreover, PDGF-EVs stimulated the formation of T regulatory cells. In vivo, PDGF-EVs protected muscle tissue from acute ischemia, reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and increased T regulatory cell infiltration in respect to cEVs. Our results suggest that PDGF-EVs are enriched in anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory factors and induced in PBMC an enhanced production of IL-10 and TGF-β1 resulting in protection of muscle from acute ischemia in vivo.

Aims/hypothesis: The islet microcirculation has morphological characteristics resembling those of renal glomeruli. Transcription of the nephrin gene, a highly specific barrier protein of the slit diaphragm of podocyte foot processes, has been reported in the pancreas, although its cellular localisation and function remain to be defined. In this study, we purified and characterised microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) isolated from human islets and investigated the expression and distribution of nephrin on these cells. Methods: Human islet MECs were extracted and purified using anti-CD105-coated immunomagnetic beads and their endothelial characteristics were confirmed by expression of classical endothelial markers and basal high-level expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and TNF-α-inducible vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Nephrin expression was assessed by immunofluorescence, flow cytometric analysis and western blotting on cell lysates, as well as by RT-PCR. Results: Immunofluorescence studies detected nephrin in a fine, punctate, diffuse pattern on cultured islet MECs, and also in human pancreatic islet sections. In both cases nephrin colocalised with endothelial markers. TNF-α treatment induced a marked reduction and redistribution of the protein in one or multiple aggregates. Nephrin expression was confirmed by flow cytometry, western blotting and RT-PCR studies. In contrast, nephrin could not be detected at the protein or mRNA level in human macro-and microvascular cells from other sites. Conclusions/interpretation: Nephrin is expressed at protein and mRNA levels in islet microendothelium, supporting the hypothesis that islet MECs exhibit distinctive morphological characteristics that indicate functional specialisation of potential pathophysiological importance.