Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising therapeutics for autoimmune diseases due to their immunomodulatory effects. In particular, human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) have a prominent therapeutic effect on atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. This study investigated the role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in the therapeutic effect of hUCB-MSCs on AD. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of TGF-β disrupted the therapeutic effect of hUCB-MSCs in a mouse model of AD by attenuating the beneficial changes in histopathology, mast cell infiltration, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression, and the serum IgE level. To confirm that hUCB-MSCs regulate secretion of TNF-α, we investigated whether they inhibit TNF-α secretion by activated LAD2 cells. Coculture with hUCB-MSCs significantly inhibited secretion of TNF-α by LAD2 cells. However, this effect was abolished by siRNA-mediated depletion of TGF-β in hUCB-MSCs. TNF-α expression in activated LAD2 cells was regulated by the extracellular signal-related kinase signaling pathway and was suppressed by TGF-β secreted from hUCB-MSCs. In addition, TGF-β secreted by hUCB-MSCs inhibited maturation of B cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that TGF-β plays a key role in the therapeutic effect of hUCB-MSCs on AD by regulating TNF-α in mast cells and maturation of B cells.atopic dermatitis, IgE, mast cells, transforming growth factor-beta, tumor necrosis factoralpha, umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells
| INTRODUCTIONAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic allergic skin disorder associated with a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. The occurrence of AD is associated with various factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and immunological abnormalities. AD is classified as type 1 hypersensitivity according to the Gell and Coombs classification and is characterized by an allergic reaction triggered via Th2 signaling; however, the pathogenesis of AD is complex and not fully understood. [1][2][3][4][5] AD was recently found to be a much more heterogeneous disease than previously thought, with additional activation of the Th22, Th17/interleukin (IL)-23, and Th1 cytokine pathways depending on the disease subtype. 6 Hwan hee Park, Seunghee Lee, and Yeonsil Yu contributed equally to this work.