Graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) limits successful outcomes following allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). We examined whether the administration of human, bone marrow-derived, multi-potent, adult progenitor cells (MAPC) could regulate experimental GvHD. The immuno-regulatory capacity of MAPC cells was evaluated in vivo using established murine GvHD models. Injection of MAPC cells on Day +1 (D1) and + 4 (D4) significantly reduced T-cell expansion and the numbers of donor-derived, TNFα and IFNγ-producing, CD4+ and CD8+ cells by D10 compared to untreated controls. These findings were associated with reductions in serum levels of TNFα and IFNγ, intestinal and hepatic inflammation and systemic GvHD as measured by survival and clinical score. Biodistribution studies showed that MAPC cells tracked from the lung and into the liver, spleen, and mesenteric nodes within 24 hours after injection. MAPC cells inhibited mouse T-cell proliferation in vitro and this effect was associated with reduced T-cell activation and inflammatory cytokine secretion and robust increases in the concentrations of PGE2 and TGFβ. Indomethacin and E-prostanoid 2 (EP2) receptor antagonism both reversed while EP2 agonism restored MAPC-mediated in vitro T-cell suppression, confirming the role for PGE2. Furthermore, cyclo-oxygenase inhibition following allo-BMT abrogated the protective effects of MAPC cells. Importantly, MAPC cells had no effect on the generation CTL activity in vitro, and the administration of MAPC cells in the setting of leukemic challenge resulted in superior leukemia-free survival. Collectively, these data provide valuable information regarding the biodistribution and regulatory capacity of MAPC cells, which may inform future clinical trial design. © AlphaMed Press 2021 SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: GVHD is a difficult to treat side effect of allogeneic stem cell transplant; most therapies involve significant immunosuppression. MAPC may provide an alternative to those therapies as treatment and prophylaxis against GVHD.
©2021 The Authors. Stem Cells published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AlphaMed Press.

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