Abstract
Purpose: :
The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of stromal matrix of cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane (AM) on the secretion of pro–inflammatory cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with lypopolysaccharide (LPS); apoptosis and cell proliferation of PBMC.
Methods: :
PBMC were seeded in the presence or absence of the stroma of AM, and were stimulated with LPS at different doses and at different times. To evaluate cell proliferation, PBMC were stimulated with Concanavalin–A (ConA). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry; secretion of IL–1beta, IL–6 and TNF–alfa was evaluated by ELISA.
Results: :
Cell proliferation was induced efficiently with ConA at 72 h of stimulus, however, in the presence of AM, there was no cell proliferation. When apoptosis was evaluated, the PBMC showed low levels of apoptosis, however, apoptosis was increased when PBMC were exposed to AM. The secretion of the pro–inflammatory cytokines by the PBMC was in a dose dependent manner without AM, however, when PBMC were exposed to AM, the production of these three cytokines was significantly reduced, this effect was more evident at 24 h of stimulus.
Conclusions: :
Taking together these results suggest that AM has immunosuppressor functions on immune system cells, and those functions may related with the components of the stromal extracellular matrix of AM.
Keywords: cornea: basic science • immunomodulation/immunoregulation • inflammation