Mesenchymal stromal cells and their secretory products reduce the inflammatory crosstalk between islets and endothelial cells.

Purpose: Preculturing isolated islets with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) improves their functional survival in vitro and subsequent transplantation outcomes in vivo. The MSC secretory product Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is a key modulator of MSC-mediated improvements in islet function. The current study aims to determine the influence of MSCs and defined MSC secretory products, including ANXA1, on the inflammatory crosstalk between isolated islets and Endothelial Cells (ECs), using in vitro models of the clinically-preferred intraportal islet transplantation niche.

Methods: Islets were cultured alone, with MSCs, or with MSC secretory products and exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Islet gene expression of C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand (CXCL)-10 (CXCL10) and CXCL1 were assessed by RT-qPCR. EC activation was induced with 100 U/ml TNF for 24 h. Islet-EC co-cultures were used to determine the influence of MSCs, or MSC secretory products on the inflammatory crosstalk between isolated islets and ECs. VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression were assessed at the mRNA and protein level in ECs, using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence.

Results: MSCs reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced islet CCL2, CXCL10, and CXCL1 gene expression, which is partially mimicked by ANXA1. MSCs and ANXA1 have a similar capacity to reduce TNF-induced EC activation. Isolated islets exacerbate TNF-induced EC activation. Preculturing islets with MSCs reduces islet-exacerbated EC activation. ANXA1 reduces islet-exacerbated EC activation, when present during the islet preculture and islet-EC co-culture period.

Conclusion: MSC-derived secretory factors, including ANXA1, may be used in islet transplantation protocols to target donor islet and host EC inflammation at the intraportal niche.