Enhanced Immunomodulation in Inflammatory Environments Favors Human Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal-Like Cells for Allogeneic Cell Therapies.

Rising numbers of patients with cardiovascular diseases and limited availability of donor hearts require new and improved therapy strategies. Human atrial appendage-derived cells (hAACs) are promising candidates for an allogeneic cell-based treatment. In this study, we evaluated their inductive and modulatory capacity regarding immune responses and underlying key mechanisms . For this, cryopreserved hAACs were either cultured in the presence of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) or left unstimulated. The expression of characteristic mesenchymal stromal cell markers (CD29, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166) was revealed by flow cytometry that also highlighted a predominant negativity for CD90. A low immunogeneic phenotype in an inflammatory milieu was shown by lacking expression of co-stimulatory molecules and upregulation of the inhibitory ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2, despite expression of HLA-DR. Co-cultures of hAACs with allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells, proved their low immunogeneic state by absence of induced T cell proliferation and activation. Additionally, elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-33, and IL-10 were detectable in those cell culture supernatants. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory potential of hAACs was assessed in co-cultures with αCD3/αCD28-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Here, a strong inhibition of T cell proliferation and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, TNFα, TNFβ, IL-17A, IL-2) were observable after pre-stimulation of hAACs with IFNγ. Transwell experiments confirmed that mostly soluble factors are responsible for these suppressive effects. We were able to identify indolamin-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) as a potential key player through a genome-wide gene expression analysis and could demonstrate its involvement in the observed immunological responses. While the application of blocking antibodies against both PD-1 ligands did not affect the immunomodulation by hAACs, 1-methyl-L-tryptophan as specific inhibitor of IDO was able to restore proliferation and to lower apoptosis of T cells. In conclusion, hAACs represent a cardiac-derived mesenchymal stromal-like cell type with a high potential for the application in an allogeneic setting, since they do not trigger T cell responses and even increase their immunomodulatory potential in inflammatory environments.