Background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating and painful disease leading to increased morbidity and mortality and novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Recent advances using biologic drugs, such as anti-TNF, have made a significant impact on the treatment of RA patients although many patients do not respond and 50% discontinue the drug after 2 years [
1]. For that reason, it is vital to develop a new and more effective therapy for RA.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show therapeutic potential in pre-clinical models of inflammatory diseases and in some clinical trials in patients with Crohn’s disease, diabetes, GVHD and myocardial infarction [
1]. Recently, the first human trial using umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) was published for RA and the results confirmed the safety and efficacy of UC-MSC infusion in active RA patients [
2]. MSCs are an ideal candidate cell type for tissue engineering and cell therapy to repair damaged structures in various arthritic conditions. MSCs possess anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties modulated by the secretion of biologically active molecules [
3] and since RA is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease involving tissue destruction, the anti-inflammatory and regenerative functions of MSCs could be exploited as a therapy [
4]. MSCs have been given intravenously or intraperitonealy in animal models of RA and lead to different therapeutic effects, varying from significant improvement to no effect so overall the results remain inconclusive [
5]. The reason for this may be the route of administration. A number of studies used intravenous or intraperitoneal administration and the MSCs were not reported to migrate into the joints to exert their effects, but have been located in the spleen [
3,
4]. Intra-articular administration of MSCs may be more beneficial than the intravenous/intraperitoneal route, applying them directly to the affected tissues.
Here, we investigated whether intra-articular injected MSCs are therapeutic, reducing joint swelling and cartilage destruction in murine antigen-induced arthritis (AIA). The characteristics of this model are as follows [
6‐
9]: preimmunisation induces humoral and cell-mediated immunity; leukocyte migration occurs into the joint, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages; it is a uniarthritis with controlled onset; pannus formation occurs resulting in erosive changes of cartilage and bone; it is antigen-specific with local hyper-reactivity and antigen retention in cartilage; chronicity can be achieved by repeated flares.
Methods
Animals
Experiments were undertaken in 7- to 8-wk-old C57Bl/6 male mice. Procedures were performed in accordance with Home Office-approved project licence PPL 40/3594.
Induction of murine AIA
Murine AIA was induced as described [
6]. Briefly, mice were immunised subcutaneously with 1 mg/ml of methylated BSA (mBSA) emulsified with an equal volume of Freund’s complete adjuvant and injected intraperitonealy with 100 μl heat-inactivated
Bordetella pertussis toxin (all reagents were from Sigma-Aldrich). The immune response was boosted 1 week later. Twenty-one days after the initial immunisation, murine AIA was induced by intra-articular injection of 10 mg/ml mBSA in the right knee (stifle) joint. For a control, the same volume of PBS was injected into the left knee joint. Animals were inspected daily for arthritis development by measuring knee joint diameters using a digital micrometer (Kroeplin GmbH). The difference in joint diameter between the arthritic (right) and non-arthritic control (left) in each animal gave a quantitative measure of swelling (in mm).
Cells
Murine MSCs (mMSCs) were isolated from C57Bl/6 mice (n = 5) as previously described [
10]. Briefly, bone marrow cells were collected by flushing them out of femurs and tibiae and cells plated out in cell isolation media (CIM) (RPMI-1640) (Gibco,UK) with 9% fetal bovine serum (Gibco,UK), 9% horse serum (Gibco, UK) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin at 37°C in 5% CO
2. After 24 hours, nonadherent cells were removed and 4 weeks later, cells were re-plated at 100 cells per cm
2 in complete expansion media (CEM) (Iscove Modified Dulbecco Medium (IMDM)) (Gibco, UK) supplemented with 9% fetal bovine serum (Gibco, UK), 9% horse serum (Gibco, UK) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin for MSC expansion. Cells were examined for their ability to differentiate into chondrocytes (using pellet cultures), osteocytes and adipocytes, as described [
10].
For the colony-forming unit assay 100 cells at passage 3 were plated in triplicate on 58 cm
2 plates in CEM as described in [
10]. Cells were incubated for 14 days in CEM, and stained with 3% crystal violet in methanol at room temperature for 20 minutes. All visible colonies were counted. Passage 3 cells were tested for immunophenotype with the following antibodies: anti-mouse Ly-6A (Sca-1)PE, anti-human/mouse CD44 PE, anti-mouse CD11b PE, anti-mouse CD45 PE and anti-mouse CD31 PE (all from eBioscience) using flow cytometry. Data were collected and displayed in dot plot and histogram format using CellQuestPro software (Becton Dickinson, Oxford, UK). More than 95% of mMSCs were positive for Sca-1 (murine MSC marker) and CD44 (mesenchymal cell marker) cell surface markers and were less than 3% positive for CD11b (macrophage and monocyte marker), CD45 (leukocyte marker) and CD31 (endothelial cell marker). Propidium iodide staining was included in the immunophenotyping to evaluate the viability of the cells.
CM-DiI labelling
A stock solution of the red fluorescent cell tracker CM-DiI (Molecular Probes, UK) was prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at concentration of 1 mg/ml. MSCs were trypsinized, washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and incubated in the working solution of CM-DiI (2.5 μl of stock per 1 ml of PBS) for 5 minutes at 37°C, and then for additional 15 minutes at 4°C, in the dark. Unincorporated dye was then removed by centrifugation at 300 g for 5 minutes and 2 washes in PBS. Cells were resuspended in serum free IMDM and maintained at 4° until injection.
Intra-articular injection of MSCs
After one day post arthritis induction, when peak swelling occurs, 10 μl of serum free IMDM, containing 500,000 MSCs labelled with cell tracker CM-DiI were injected intra-articularly (0.5 ml monoject (29 G) insulin syringe, BD Micro-Fine, Franklyn Lakes, USA) through the patellar ligament into the right knee joint. Stretching of the hind-leg facilitated the intra-articular injection. Control animals were injected with 10 μl of serum free IMDM. Joint diameters were measured at days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28. At the end of the experiments, animals were killed and joints were collected for histology. Experiments were performed independently, twice, and all measures were made to reduce the number of used animals (n = 6 animals/per time point).
Histological assessment
Animals were sacrificed at the indicated times after induction of arthritis (at days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28; n = 6 animals/per time point). Joints were fixed in neutral buffered formal saline, and decalcified with formic acid at 4°C before embedding in paraffin. Mid-sagittal serial sections (5 μm thickness) were cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). For detection of CM-DiI-labelled MSCs, sections were rehydrated through a xylene and alcohol, stained with fluorescent dye DAPI (Sigma-Aldrich, UK), mounted in Hydromount (National Diagnostics, UK) and examined by fluorescence microscopy. Two independent observers blinded to the experimental groups scored H&E sections. Synovial hyperplasia, cellular exudate and cartilage depletion were scored from 0 (normal) to 3 (severe); synovial infiltrate was scored from 0 to 5 [
6]. Cartilage damage was scored on serial toluidine blue stained sections. All parameters were subsequently summed to give an arthritis index (mean ± SEM).
Endothelial cells in the joint synovia were identified by immunofluorescence with rabbit anti-von Willebrand factor (1:100; Dako, Ely, UK) followed by goat anti-rabbit Alexa 488 second antibody (1:400; Life Technologies, Paisley, UK).
TNFα assay
Serum concentration of TNFα was measured using a mouse TNFα ELISA Ready-SET-Go! Kit (eBioscience) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Statistical analysis
Differences between groups were compared by Mann Whitney U or unpaired t tests, using GraphPad Prism software version 5. P values less than 0.05 being deemed as significant.
Discussion
In this study, we examined a therapeutic strategy for arthritis using a single intra-articular injection of MSCs. We found that these cells are therapeutic, reducing the severity of AIA in mice. An injection of 500,000 MSC given at the peak of joint swelling was enough to prevent the occurrence of severe cartilage damage, and reduce joint inflammation and exudate in the joint cavity. Studies of MSCs as a cellular therapy for animal models of RA exhibit contradictory results [
5]. Experimental protocols differed between all of these studies, which may, in part, explain discrepancies in results.Djouad et al, Mao et al and Choi et al used intravenous but González et al. used intraperitoneal administration and the MSCs were not reported to migrate into the joints to exert their effects, but have been located in the spleen [
5,
11‐
13]. Furthermore intravenously injected MSCs are known to become lodged in the lungs which could further hamper their therapeutic effect [
14]. Our data suggest that intra-articular administration of MSCs may be more beneficial than the intravenous/intraperitoneal route, applying them directly to the affected tissues. The homing of systemically injected MSCs in the AIA model has not been studied and will be of the interest to compare with the results of intra-articular administration used in the present study and to compare with other models such as systemic injections in collagen-induced arthritis. Our findings indicate that joint swelling in arthritis as a clinical indication of joint inflammation is reduced in the presence of administered MSCs and these cells migrate into the inflamed synovium. Furthermore, MSCs reduce the amount of exudates in the joint cavity. Joint swelling is common with different types of arthritis and is caused by oedema due to the endothelial cells of blood vessels becoming leaky in the inflamed synovium [
15]. We hypothesise that soluble factors produced by MSCs are responsible for permeability changes in the synovial endothelial cells, although further studies are required in this regard. Direct MSC-endothelial cell contact is most likely not responsible since these cells did not colocalise (Figure
4E). In this connection, in vitro and in vivo studies with pulmonary endothelial cells reveal that MSCs and conditioned media from these cells inhibit endothelial cell permeability and lung oedema by preserving adherent junctions (VE-cadherin and β-catenin) [
16]. Recent studies show that complexes of alarmins S100A8 and S100A9, which are major products of neutrophils and macrophages [
17], bind to endothelial cells via specific interaction with heparan sulphate proteoglycans, inducing inflammatory responses in endothelial cells and increasing the endothelial permeability [
18]. It is currently unknown if mMSCs and alarmins effect permeability of the synovial endothelial cells.
Histological analysis of joint sections was used to determine the nature of cells in exudate within the joint space. Leukocytes, and in particular neutrophils, were identified by their nuclear morphology and were broadly distributed throughout joint exudate in control-treated mice. There was a significant reduction of amount of exudates, comprising leukocytes in the joint cavity in MSC-treated mice at days 3 and 7 after arthritis induction. Neutrophils have been considered as important cells in the development of inflammatory joint disease, as supported by several studies involving experimental models of arthritis [
19]. Neutrophils are found in high numbers within the human rheumatoid joint, especially in the joint fluid. Here they have a significant potential to directly inflict damage to tissue, bone and cartilage via the secretion of proteases and toxic oxygen metabolites, as well as driving inflammation through antigen presentation and secretion of cytokines, chemokines, prostaglandins and leucotrienes [
20]. Neutrophil depleted mice are completely resistant to the inflammatory effects of arthritogenic serum from K/BxN mice [
19]. In the present study an intra-articular injection of MSCs given at the peak of joint swelling reduces the accumulation of leukocytes in the joint fluid in AIA which may be related to the reduced joint damage in terms of cartilage depletion. It is possible that soluble anti-inflammatory factors produced by MSCs influence leukocyte accumulation in the joint fluid during inflammation in AIA. In the synovium there was also a reduction in leukocyte infiltration but this did not reach statistical significance.
Cartilage damage was scored on serial toluidine blue–stained sections based upon proteoglycan loss in articular cartilage. Healthy cartilage shows a dark blue stain and a loss of cartilage proteoglycans is indicated by cartilage destaining [
21].
We directly compared the extent of cartilage damage in control and MSC-injected sections by semi-quantitative histological scoring (Table
1) and cartilage depletion was scored from 0 (normal) to 3 (severe).
Our results showed inhibition of proteoglycan loss, a marker of early cartilage destruction, by local MSC treatment. Breakdown of the cartilage matrix is one of the features of RA. Aggrecan can be cleaved by both matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif (ADAMTS) at different sites. Formation of the NITEGE (ADAMTS-cleaved) and DIPEN (MMP-cleaved) aggrecan neoepitopes and their detection with neoepitope antibodies can provide information about which enzyme is the major one that degrades aggrecan in mouse cartilage and has set a target for the development of new drugs designed to inhibit cartilage destruction in RA [
22].
Early cartilage destruction in AIA is characterised by loss of aggrecan and the ADAMTS family members are thought to be involved in mediating this loss [
18,
23]. ADAMTS-5 is of special interest since only lack of the
Adamts-5 gene prevents cartilage damage in a mouse model of arthritis [
24]. It is possible that factors released by MSCs influence the activity or expression of ADAMTS enzymes resulting in less aggrecan degradation. It has been shown in experimental osteoarthritis model that stem cell treatment strongly inhibited expression of neo-epitopes (NITEGE), suggesting suppression of ADAMTS activity [
17]. Another possibility is that MSCs are directly differentiating into chondrocytes leading to less cartilage destruction. However, this is unlikely as injection of fluorescently labelled MSCs did not localise to cartilage but to the inflamed synovium (Figure
4A and
4D).
TNFα is a cytokine involved in inflammation and tissue degradation in RA. The finding that administration of MSCs results in reduced levels of TNFα in the circulation may be related to their anti-inflammatory effects, in terms of reducing oedema, swelling and leukocyte accumulation, and cartilage protective effects namely inhibiting proteoglycan degradation.
Several groups demonstrated therapeutic effects of intra-articular injections of MSCs in experimental osteoarthritis models [
17,
25‐
27]. These studies showed anti-inflammatory and reparative effects on cartilage using both bone marrow-derived and adipose-derived stem cells. In addition, intra-articularly injected adipose-derived stem cells were found to home to the subintimal synovial lining layer in mice [
17]. The current study in an RA model is in general agreement with these osteoarthritis models.
Acknowledgments
We thank Pat Evans, Martin Pritchard and Nigel Harness for their histological expertise, staff at the LSSU of Liverpool John Moores University for breeding and keeping of the mice and Dr Anwen Williams with help setting up the model.
This work was supported by the Institute of Orthopaedics Ltd, Oswestry [PG 123], the Oswestry Rheumatology Association and the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine [ECP023/0811].
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
OK performed the experimental work and wrote the paper; AC performed the experimental work; AA, AEH and JM designed the study and JM also wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.