Modification of the inflammatory profile of mesenchymal stem cells using different culture conditions.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent cells with significant therapeutic potential. The objective of this study was to examine the inflammatory profile of MSCs cultured under different conditions. MSCs were cultured by three strategies: seeding on an extracellular matrix (ECM), spheroids in static culture and spheroids in a bioreactor. Paracrine factors and CD206, a marker of M2 macrophage phenotype, were measured. MSCs grown as spheroids in a bioreactor produced more IL-6 and IL-8 (p < 0.05). Supernatant collected from spheroids under both culture conditions increased the M2 macrophage phenotype almost twofold. Results indicate that the inflammatory profile of the supernatant collected from MSCs can be modified through culture conditions which has impacts for the future of regenerative medicine.