Mesenchymal stem cells enhance [alpha]-synuclein clearance via M2 microglia polarization in experimental and human parkinsonian disorder

• Published in: Acta neuropathologica 2016-11, Vol.132 (5), p.685
• Main Authors: Park, Hyun Jung, Oh, Se Hee, Kim, Ha Na, Jung, Yu Ju, Lee, Phil Hyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Alzheimer's disease; Cytokines; Genotype & phenotype; Medical research; Parkinson's disease; Proteins; Stem cells
• ISSN: 0001-6322; 1432-0533
• DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1605-6

Microglia in the brain show distinctive phenotypes that serve different functions. In particular, M2-polarized microglia are anti-inflammatory and phagocytic cells that serve a restorative function. In this study, we investigated whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) enhance the phagocytic clearance of [alpha]-synuclein via M2 microglia polarization, and thereby exert neuroprotective effects in [alpha]-synuclein-enriched experimental models and patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Treatment of BV2 cells with [alpha]-synuclein induced an inflammatory phenotype, whereas co-culture of [alpha]-synuclein-treated BV2 cells with MSCs induced an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, with decreased [alpha]-synuclein levels and increased lysosomal activity, leading to greater viability of neuronal cells co-cultured with BV2 cells. Using IL-4 receptor siRNA in BV2 cells and IL-4 siRNA in MSCs, we found that M2 microglia polarization was induced by IL-4 secreted from MSCs. In [alpha]-synuclein-inoculated mice, MSC treatment induced M2 microglia polarization decreased [alpha]-synuclein levels, and had a prosurvival effect on neurons. Using IL-4 and IL-4 receptor knockout mice, we further confirmed that IL-4 secreted from MSCs induced phagocytic clearance of [alpha]-synuclein through M2 microglia polarization. Next, we found that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from MSC-transplanted MSA patients induced microglia M2 polarization and had a prosurvival effect via enhanced clearance of [alpha]-synuclein in [alpha]-synuclein-treated BV2 cells. Finally, a serial CSF study demonstrated that changes in oligomeric [alpha]-synuclein from baseline to 1-year follow-up were greater in the CSF of MSC-transplanted MSA patients than in placebo-transplanted MSA patients. These findings indicate that MSCs exert a neuroprotective effect via the clearance of extracellular [alpha]-synuclein by controlling microglia M2 polarization, suggesting that MSCs could be used as a disease-modifying therapy for patients with [alpha]-synucleinopathies.