Mesenchymal stromal cell apoptosis is required for their therapeutic function

Swee Heng Milon Pang, Joshua D’Rozario, Senora Mendonca, Tejasvini Bhuvan, Natalie L. Payne, Di Zheng, Assifa Hisana, Georgia Wallis, Adele Barugahare, David Powell, Jai Rautela, Nicholas D. Huntington, Grant Dewson, David C. S. Huang, Daniel H. D. Gray and Tracy S. P. Heng ()
Additional contact information
Swee Heng Milon Pang: Monash University
Joshua D’Rozario: Monash University
Senora Mendonca: Monash University
Tejasvini Bhuvan: Monash University
Natalie L. Payne: Monash University
Di Zheng: Monash University
Assifa Hisana: Monash University
Georgia Wallis: Monash University
Adele Barugahare: Monash University
David Powell: Monash University
Jai Rautela: Monash University
Nicholas D. Huntington: Monash University
Grant Dewson: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
David C. S. Huang: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Daniel H. D. Gray: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Tracy S. P. Heng: Monash University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) ameliorate a wide range of diseases in preclinical models, but the lack of clarity around their mechanisms of action has impeded their clinical utility. The therapeutic effects of MSCs are often attributed to bioactive molecules secreted by viable MSCs. However, we found that MSCs underwent apoptosis in the lung after intravenous administration, even in the absence of host cytotoxic or alloreactive cells. Deletion of the apoptotic effectors BAK and BAX prevented MSC death and attenuated their immunosuppressive effects in disease models used to define MSC potency. Mechanistically, apoptosis of MSCs and their efferocytosis induced changes in metabolic and inflammatory pathways in alveolar macrophages to effect immunosuppression and reduce disease severity. Our data reveal a mode of action whereby the host response to dying MSCs is key to their therapeutic effects; findings that have broad implications for the effective translation of cell-based therapies.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26834-3

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