Rheumatoid Synovial Fluid and Acidic Extracellular pH Modulate the Immunomodulatory Activity of Urine-Derived Stem Cells

Urine-derived stem cells (UdSCs) possess a remarkable anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating activity. However, the clinical significance of UdSCs in autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is yet to be explored. Hence, we tested the UdSCs response to an articular RA microenvironment. To simulate the inflamed RA joint more authentically in vitro, we treated cells with rheumatoid synovial fluids (RASFs) collected from RA patients, serum deprivation, acidosis (pH 7.0 and 6.5), and their combinations. Firstly, the RASFs pro-inflammatory status was assessed by cytokine quantification. Then, UdSCs were exposed to the RA environmental factors for 48 h and cell proliferation, gene expression and secretion of immunomodulatory factors were evaluated. The immunosuppressive potential of pre-conditioned UdSCs was also assessed via co-cultivation with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In all experimental conditions, UdSCs’ proliferation was not affected. Conversely, extracellular acidosis considerably impaired the viability/proliferation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ATSCs). In the majority of cases, exposure to RA components led to the upregulated expression of IL-6, TSG6, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and PD-L1, all involved in immunomodulation. Upon RASFs and acidic stimulation, UdSCs secreted higher levels of immunomodulatory cytokines: IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, RANTES, GM-CSF, and IL-4. Furthermore, RASFs and combined pretreatment with RASFs and acidosis promoted the UdSCs-mediated immunosuppression and the proliferation of activated PBMCs was significantly inhibited. Altogether, our data indicate that the RA microenvironment certainly has the capacity to enhance UdSCs’ immunomodulatory function. For potential preclinical/clinical applications, the intra-articular injection might be a reasonable approach to maximize UdSCs’ therapeutic efficiency in the RA treatment.