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Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Over-expression Mutant IL-2 Enhance Treg Function in CIA Mice
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  • Zhicheng Tang,
  • Fan Yang,
  • Jingyi Shen,
  • Haolin Wu,
  • Huiming Hong,
  • Yue Wang,
  • Fanzhang Yin,
  • Xiaojun Tang,
  • Huayong Zhang
Zhicheng Tang
Nanjing Medical University
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Fan Yang
Nanjing Medical University
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Jingyi Shen
Nanjing Medical University
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Haolin Wu
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
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Huiming Hong
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
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Yue Wang
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
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Fanzhang Yin
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
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Xiaojun Tang
Nanjing University Medical School Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Department of Rheumatology and Immunology
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Huayong Zhang
Nanjing Medical University

Corresponding Author:huayong.zhang@nju.edu.cn

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Abstract

Objectives: Research indicates that low doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2) can effectively mitigate RA symptoms by promoting Treg cells, while high doses may enhance immune responses. Consequently, this study employed mutated IL-2 to minimize its impact on CD8 + T and NK cell activation while preserving its influence on Treg cells. Methods: We constructed IL-2 mutants by overlap PCR and assessed its impact on the proliferation and functionality of Treg cells by flow cytometry and PCR. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of mutated IL-2 and MSC on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice were evaluated through the infusion of lentiviral-transfected mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) for CIA treatment and through pathological section staining to assess inflammatory joint injury, cartilage destruction, and osteoclast infiltration. Results: Mutant IL-2 demonstrated targeted enhancement of both the proportion and proliferative activity of Treg cells with a diminished capacity to stimulate the proliferation of CD8 + T cells and NK cells relative to wild-type IL-2. Moreover, MSC-mutant IL-2 significantly augmented the proportion of Treg cells compared to either MSC or mutant IL-2 in isolation. Treatment with MSC-mutant IL-2 infusion in CIA mice ameliorated arthritis symptoms and reduced inflammatory infiltration and cartilage damage in their joints. Conclusion: Mutant IL-2 enhances Treg function and proliferation while exerting reduced effects on CD8 + and NK cell activation. MSC expressing mutant IL-2 demonstrates therapeutic benefits in CIA by increasing the proportion of Treg cells and reducing the proportion of CD8 + T cells.