The immunomodulatory effects of Mesenchymal stem cells on THP-1-derived macrophages against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra infection

Background Immune imbalance is crucial in tuberculosis pathogenesis and may be modulated by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, how MSCs regulate the host's response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is unclear. Methods Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were co-cultured with Mtb-infected THP-1 macrophages. The intracellular release of ROS in macrophages was measured by DCFH-DA. Cytokine expression was measured by RT-qPCR, apoptosis by Annexin V/PI assay, and pyroptosis markers by Western blotting. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Mtb-infected THP-1 co-cultured with or without MSCs were identified by RNA-seq and potential signaling pathways were analyzed through bioinformatics. Results The fibroblastic morphology of MSCs exhibited 95 % positivity for CD73, CD90, and CD105, while the positivity rate for negative marker HLA-DR was less than 2 %. In Mtb-infected THP-1 macrophages, co-culturing with MSCs increased ROS release, cytokines expression (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), apoptosis, and pyroptosis markers (NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD). Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 347 up-regulated and 291 down-regulated DEGs, primarily associated with receptor-ligand interactions and enriched in cytokine signaling pathways including JAK-STAT, TNF, ferroptosis, and autophagy. Conclusion MSCs could enhance the macrophages' immune response to Mtb by activating immune receptors and inflammatory signaling pathways.