Lentiviral Mediating Genetic Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Releasing IL-27 as a Gene Therapy Approach for Autoimmune Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Autoimmune diseases precede a complex dysregulation of the immune system. T helper17 (Th17) and interleukin (IL)-17 have central roles in initiation of inflammation and subsequent autoimmune diseases. IL-27 significantly controls autoimmune diseases by Th17 and IL-17 suppression. In the present study we have created genetic engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that mediate with lentiviral vectors to release IL-27 as an adequate vehicle for ex vivo gene therapy in the reduction of inflammation and autoimmune diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, we isolated adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) from lipoaspirate and subsequently characterized them by differentiation. Two subunits of IL-27 (p28 and EBI3) were cloned in a pCDH-513B-1 lentiviral vector. Expressions of p28 and EBI3 (Epstein-Barr virus induced gene 3) were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MSCs were transduced by a pCDH-CMV-p28-IRES- EBI3-EF-copGFP-Pur lentiviral vector and the bioassay of IL-27 was evaluated by IL-10 expression. RESULTS: Cell differentiation confirmed true isolation of MSCs from lipoaspirate. Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing verified successful cloning of both p28 and EBI3 in the pCDH-513B-1 lentiviral vector. Real time PCR showed high expressions level of IL-27 and IL-10 as well as accurate activity of IL-27. CONCLUSION: The results showed transduction of functional IL-27 to AD-MSCs by means of a lentiviral vector. The lentiviral vector did not impact MSC characteristics.