Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote myeloid-derived suppressor cell enrichment by secreting CXCL1 to prevent graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Background aims Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from various tissues have emerged as attractive candidates for the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). However, the molecular machinery that defines and channels the behavior of these cells remains poorly understood. Methods In this study, the authors compared the efficacy of four tissue-derived MSC types in controlling GVHD in a murine model and investigated their immunomodulatory effects. Results Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) effectively decreased the incidence and severity of GVHD, which was mediated by the enrichment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in GVHD target tissues. RNA sequencing results showed that hUCMSCs highly expressed CXCL1. Conclusions These results suggest a novel prophylactic application of hUCMSCs for controlling GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.