Department of Internal Medicine, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran.
Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran.
Transpl Immunol. 2022 Oct;74:101651. doi: 10.1016/j.trim.2022.101651. Epub 2022 Jun 25.
Hepatitis C is one of the leading causes of liver disease in the world and despite extensive research, there is still no vaccine against it. Researchers have identified cell-based therapies as an alternative strategy in advanced liver disorders. The aim of this study was to transfer the hepatitis C virus core protein (HCVcp) gene into mesenchymal stem cells and to evaluate its immunogenicity after injection into mice.
The present study had two experimental and animal stages. In the first step, by designing a vector containing the HCVcp gene and transferring it into the mesenchymal stem cell, gene expression and protein production by the mesenchymal stem cell manipulated by PCR and SDS-PAGE were confirmed. In the second stage, by injecting manipulated mesenchymal stem cells into mice, the level of humoral immune stimulation and splenocytes proliferation was assessed by the ELISA commercial kit.
According to molecular studies, the expression of HCVcp was confirmed by mesenchymal stem cells. Also, splenocytes proliferation rate (0.316 ± 0.029) and antibody titer (284 ± 47) in mice treated with manipulated mesenchymal stem cells were significantly increased compared to the control group.
The results of the present study showed that the use of genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells while maintaining the immunomodulatory properties of these cells can stimulate specific immune system responses against hepatitis C central protein.
丙型肝炎是世界上导致肝脏疾病的主要原因之一，尽管进行了广泛的研究，但目前仍没有针对丙型肝炎的疫苗。研究人员已经确定细胞疗法是治疗晚期肝脏疾病的一种替代策略。本研究的目的是将丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白（HCVcp）基因转移到间充质干细胞中，并评估其在注射入小鼠体内后的免疫原性。
本研究分为两个实验和动物阶段。在第一步中，通过设计包含 HCVcp 基因的载体并将其转入间充质干细胞中，通过 PCR 和 SDS-PAGE 确认间充质干细胞的基因表达和蛋白产生。在第二步中，通过将经过处理的间充质干细胞注射入小鼠体内，通过 ELISA 试剂盒评估体液免疫刺激和脾细胞增殖水平。
根据分子研究，间充质干细胞证实了 HCVcp 的表达。此外，与对照组相比，用经过处理的间充质干细胞处理的小鼠的脾细胞增殖率（0.316±0.029）和抗体滴度（284±47）显著增加。
本研究结果表明，使用基因工程间充质干细胞，同时保持这些细胞的免疫调节特性，可以刺激针对丙型肝炎核心蛋白的特异性免疫系统反应。
