Abstract:

BACKGROUND: There are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in synovium that have the ability to proliferate extensively in culture.
OBJECTIVE: To study the method of isolating and culturing human synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), to explore the immune-phenotype and the effect of SMSCs on the proliferation of T lymphocytes, and to evaluate the immunological  characteristics of SMSCs.
METHODS: Cell populations were enzymatically released from the synovial membrane obtained from human knee joints by arthroscopy. Monoclone was selected as primary SMSCs. SMSCs were assayed on its multiplication capacity and cell vitality and characterized by FACS analysis. According to different ratios of SMSCs to peripheral blood monocytes, SMSCs were treated with mitomycin in the MLR system. The lymphocyte proliferation rate was measured by MTT assay and then the inhibition rate was calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no statistical significance between the 10 clones in multiplication capacity and cell vitality (P > 0.05). SMSCs were positive for CD44, CD90, CD105, but negative for CD14, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR, respectively. After the second passage, CD166 appeared to be positive. The proliferation of T lymphocytes could be inhibited to different extents by adding different ratios of SMSCs to human PBMCs, and the inhibition rate increased as the ratios of SMSCs to PBMCs increased. Human SMSCs can be isolated from knee joint. These cells have the ability to proliferate extensively in culture, express the phenotype of MSCs and exhibit immune regulatory effects.