Myeloid-derived suppressor cells prevent disruption of the gut barrier, preserve microbiota composition, and potentiate immunoregulatory pathways in a rat model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Dušan Radojević,
Marina Bekić,
Alisa Gruden-Movsesijan,
Nataša Ilić,
Miroslav Dinić,
Aleksandar Bisenić,
Nataša Golić,
Dragana Vučević,
Jelena Đokić,
Sergej Tomić
Affiliations
Dušan Radojević
Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction, Laboratory for Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Marina Bekić
Department for Immunology and Immunoparasitology, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Alisa Gruden-Movsesijan
Department for Immunology and Immunoparasitology, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Nataša Ilić
Department for Immunology and Immunoparasitology, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Miroslav Dinić
Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction, Laboratory for Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandar Bisenić
Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction, Laboratory for Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Nataša Golić
Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction, Laboratory for Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Dragana Vučević
Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense in Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Đokić
Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction, Laboratory for Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Sergej Tomić
Department for Immunology and Immunoparasitology, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Over-activated myeloid cells and disturbance in gut microbiota composition are critical factors contributing to the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) emerged as promising regulators of chronic inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune diseases. However, it remained unclear whether MDSCs display any therapeutic potential in MS, and how this therapy modulates gut microbiota composition. Here, we assessed the potential of in vitro generated bone marrow-derived MDSCs to ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Dark Agouti rats and investigated how their application associates with the changes in gut microbiota composition. MDSCs differentiated with prostaglandin (PG)E2 (MDSC-PGE2) and control MDSCs (differentiated without PGE2) displayed strong immunosuppressive properties in vitro, but only MDSC-PGE2 significantly ameliorated EAE symptoms. This effect correlated with a reduced infiltration of Th17 and IFN-γ-producing NK cells, and an increased proportion of regulatory T cells in the CNS and spleen. Importantly, both MDSCs and MDSC-PGE2 prevented EAE-induced reduction of gut microbiota diversity, but only MDSC-PGE2 prevented the extensive alterations in gut microbiota composition following their early migration into Payer’s patches and mesenteric lymph nodes. This phenomenon was related to the significant enrichment of gut microbial taxa with potential immunoregulatory properties, as well as higher levels of butyrate, propionate, and putrescine in feces. This study provides new insights into the host–microbiota interactions in EAE, suggesting that activated MDSCs could be potentially used as an efficient therapy for acute phases of MS. Considering a significant association between the efficacy of MDSC-PGE2 and gut microbiota composition, our findings also provide a rationale for further exploring the specific microbial metabolites in MS therapy.
