IL-6 Causes Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Inhibit Lymphocyte Apoptosis

Piscataway, NJ

Mesenchymal stem cells are a very strange type of cell. On the one hand they are known to suppress pathological activities of the immune system, and on the other hand they promote survival of T cells.

In a recent study (Xu et al. The role of IL-6 in inhibition of lymphocyte apoptosis by mesenchymal stem cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Jul 20), it was demonstrated that inhibition of T cell apoptosis by mesenchymal stem cells was dependent on cell to cell contact.

The researchers found that addition of the anti-IL6 antibody to mesenchymal-lymphocyte cultures abrogated the anti-apoptotic effects of the mesenchymal stem cells.

Additionally, it was found that lymphocyte contact with mesenchymal stem cells induced production of IL-6.

It will be interesting to see if mesenchymal stem cells preferentially promote survival of CD4+ CD25+ Treg in comparison to conventional T cells.