Volume 83, Issue 2 (May 2025)
Tehran Univ Med J 2025, 83(2): 99-105 |
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Ghoryani M, Ahmadi M, Atabaki M, Tavakkol-Afshari J, Mohammadi M. Immunomodulatory effect of autologous bone marrow MSCs on TNF-α expression in refractory rheumatoid arthritis. Tehran Univ Med J 2025; 83 (2) :99-105
URL: http://tumj.tums.ac.ir/article-1-13517-en.html
URL: http://tumj.tums.ac.ir/article-1-13517-en.html
1- Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.
2- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3- Clinical Immunology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
4- Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
5- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3- Clinical Immunology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
4- Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
5- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract: (815 Views)
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder marked by persistent inflammation, progressive joint destruction, functional disability, and systemic complications. Key inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-17 (IL-17), play critical roles in disease progression and tissue damage. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently gained attention as a therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases because of their abilities in self-renewal, immune modulation, and tissue repair. Considering the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of RA, this study investigated the effect of autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs (ABMSCs) on the gene expression of TNF-α and IL-17A in patients with refractory RA.
Methods: The study utilized archived RNA from the research team's previous clinical trial. In this study, 13 patients with refractory RA who underwent MSC transplantation (MSCT) at an intravenous dose of 1×10⁶ ABMSCs per kilogram of body weight were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months post-injection. Between November 2023 and March 2024, archived RNA samples were converted into cDNA at the Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Then, the expression levels of TNF and IL-17A were analyzed using SYBR Green-based real-time PCR.
Results: TNF-α gene expression declined significantly 1 month after MSCT (mean±SEM: 1.00±0.00 at baseline vs. 0.38±0.11 at 1 month, P=0.045). However, no significant differences were observed at 6 months (1.21±0.38) or 12 months (0.61±0.18) compared to baseline (P>0.05). IL-17A gene expression remained statistically unchanged across all time points (baseline: 1.00±0.00; 1 month: 0.87±0.31; 6 months: 1.19±0.42; 12 months: 1.79±0.92; P>0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that ABMSCs may exert an anti-inflammatory effect by modulating TNF-α in patients with refractory RA. However, the findings related to IL-17A do not support the hypothesis that ABMSC injection exerts anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of IL-17A gene expression in these patients.
Methods: The study utilized archived RNA from the research team's previous clinical trial. In this study, 13 patients with refractory RA who underwent MSC transplantation (MSCT) at an intravenous dose of 1×10⁶ ABMSCs per kilogram of body weight were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months post-injection. Between November 2023 and March 2024, archived RNA samples were converted into cDNA at the Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Then, the expression levels of TNF and IL-17A were analyzed using SYBR Green-based real-time PCR.
Results: TNF-α gene expression declined significantly 1 month after MSCT (mean±SEM: 1.00±0.00 at baseline vs. 0.38±0.11 at 1 month, P=0.045). However, no significant differences were observed at 6 months (1.21±0.38) or 12 months (0.61±0.18) compared to baseline (P>0.05). IL-17A gene expression remained statistically unchanged across all time points (baseline: 1.00±0.00; 1 month: 0.87±0.31; 6 months: 1.19±0.42; 12 months: 1.79±0.92; P>0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that ABMSCs may exert an anti-inflammatory effect by modulating TNF-α in patients with refractory RA. However, the findings related to IL-17A do not support the hypothesis that ABMSC injection exerts anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of IL-17A gene expression in these patients.
Type of Study: Original Article |
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