The high level of IL-1β in the serum of ACLF patients induces increased IL-8 expression in hUC-MSCs and reduces the efficacy of hUC-MSCs in liver failure

BACKGROUND: Stem cells play a therapeutic role mainly through immunoregulation. However, the immunomodulatory function of stem cells may be affected by inflammation-related factors in patients’ serum. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the possible mechanism by which acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patient serum influences the efficacy of hUC-MSCs. METHODS: The serum of surviving and dead ACLF patients was collected to culture hUC-MSCs in vitro, and the hUC-MSCs cultured in the serum of ACLF patients were used to treat acute liver failure (ALF) rats. The therapeutic effect on the rats was evaluated by a survival curve, the transaminase level and liver histopathology. The expression of cytokines in hUC-MSCs was detected by Q-PCR and ELISA. RESULTS: Serum pretreatment reduced the therapeutic effect of hUC-MSCs on ALF, especially pretreatment in the serum from dead ACLF patients. After hUC-MSCs were cultured in the serum of surviving or dead ACLF patients, the most differentially expressed factor was IL-8. Interfering with the expression of IL-8 in hUC-MSCs can improve the therapeutic effect of hUC-MSCs on ALF. The high level of IL-1β in the serum of dead ACLF patients causes the increased expression of IL-8 in hUC-MSCs through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Meanwhile, we found that the neutralizing IL-1β in serum from dead ACLF patients can improve the therapeutic effect of hUC-MSCs on ALF. CONCLUSION: The high level of IL-1β in ACLF serum can promote the expression of IL-8 in hUC-MSCs through the NF-κB signaling pathway, thus reducing the effect of hUC-MSCs on ALF. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-023-03455-9.