Effect of interferon- on the expression of regulatory NLRP6 and NLRP12 genes in human Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are well-known for their immune-modulatory properties. A subgroup of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) has been recently identified to play a regulatory role in immune and inflammatory responses. This study aims to analyze and compare the gene expression levels of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing proteins (NLRPs), such as NLRP6 and NLRP12, in Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) treated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), the pro-inflammatory cytokine, and untreated cells. Methods: The immunophenotypic characterization of the isolated Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) was conducted using flow cytometry. Next, they were cultured with or without IFN-γ, followed by a comparison of the expression levels of the NLRP6 and NLRP12 genes using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results: Treatment of cells with IFN-γ resulted in a statistically significant increase in NLRP12 gene expression compared to untreated cells. In contrast, the expression of NLRP6 did not differ significantly between cells with or without IFN-γ treatment. Conclusion: The altered expression level of NLRP12 suggests its potential role in the inflammatory regulation mediated by WJ-MSCs in response to IFN exposure; however, further studies are needed to validate its role in experimental models of inflammatory-related diseases.