Conditioned culture medium of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promotes phenotypic transformation of microglia by regulating mitochondrial autophagy

Objective. . To study the mechanism by which conditioned medium of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs-CM) facilitates the transition of pro-inflammatory polarized microglia to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Methods. . BV2 cells, a mouse microglia cell line, were transformed into a pro- inflammatory phenotype using lipopolysaccharide. The expression of phenotypic genes in BV2 cells was detected using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure inflammatory cytokine levels in BV2 cells co-cultured with BMSCs-CM. The expressions of mitophagy-associated proteins were determined using western blot. The mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels in BV2 cells were measured using JC-1 staining and an ATP assay kit, respectively. Additionally, we examined the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of C8-D1A cells, a mouse astrocyte cell line, co-cultured with BV2 cells. Results. . After co- culture with BMSCs-CM, the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha alpha (TNF-alpha) alpha ) and inducible nitric oxide synthase significantly decreased in pro- inflammatory BV2 cells, whereas the expression of CD206 and arginase-1 significantly increased. Moreover, TNF-alpha alpha and interleukin-6 levels significantly decreased, whereas transforming growth factor-beta beta and interleukin-10 levels significantly increased. Furthermore, co-culture with BMSCs-CM increased mitophagy-associated protein expression, ATP levels, mitochondrial and lysosomal co-localization in these cells and decreased reactive oxygen species levels. Importantly, BMSCs-CM reversed the decrease in the proliferation and migration of C8-D1A cells co-cultured with pro-inflammatory BV2 cells and inhibited the apoptosis of C8-D1A cells. Conclusion. . BMSCs-CM may promote the transition of polarized microglia from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory phenotype by regulating mitophagy and influences the functional state of astrocytes.