Inhibitory Effect of Immunologically Activated Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Lung Cancer Cell Growth and Metastasis

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells. The authors' study investigated the effects of immunologically activated human umbilical cord (HUC)-MSCs on A549 lung cancer cells. Materials and Methods: HUC-MSCs were separated from the umbilical cord using the adherence method. Surface markers of HUC-MSCs were detected by flow cytometry for MSC identification. Imiquimod (TLR7 agonist) was incubated with HUC-MSCs for immune activation, and the expression of MSC-specific markers and immune inflammatory molecules was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. HUC A549 cells were cocultured with HUC-MSCs treated with imiquimod, siTLR7 (small interfering RNA for TLR7) or TLR7 overexpression, and then cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, and the expression of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and NF-κB was investigated using MTT assay, clone formation assay, transwell assay, and Western blot, respectively. Results: HUC-MSCs were identified as positive for CD73, CD105, CD44, CD29, and CD90. Expression of MSC markers was inhibited, while those of immune inflammatory molecules expression except IL-6 (interleukin-6) was enhanced after MSCs were immunologically activated by imiquimod. After being cocultured with HUC-MSCs treated with imiquimod or overexpressed TLR7, cell viability, proliferation, and metastasis, and the phosphorylation of P65 and AKT in A549 cells were decreased, but apoptosis was increased, while siTLR7 showed the opposite effect HUC. Conclusions: Immunologically activated HUC-MSCs inhibited the growth and metastasis, yet, promoted the apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells via regulating the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways.