Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties and thus offer a potentially attractive therapeutic option for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of extracellular enzymes that play a key role in the pathogenesis of MS. It is unclear whether MSCs affect MMPs or not. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hWJ-MSCs) on gene expression of MMPs in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We isolated hWJ-MSCs based on explant culture. HWJ-MSCs were injected on days 3 and 11 after EAE induction. In the peak phase of disease (day 22) and 50 days after EAE induction, the brains were harvested and the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) genes in brain of EAE mice was studied. HWJ-MSCs significantly decreased the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes but increased gene expression of TIMP-1 in brain of EAE mice. Our finding open new perspectives for understanding the mechanisms of MSCs in treatment of MS. © All rights reserved for official publication of Baqiyatallah university of medical sciences.