Dendritic cells as relevant tools to predict the outcome of tissue engineering constructs

Objectives: Within TE constructs, cells represent adjuvants to the host immune system, acting through the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), leading to increased co-stimulatory and MHC molecules expression, cytokine secretion and allo-stimulatory capacity. Starch and polycaprolactone (SPCL) scaffolds have shown to support human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) growth and differentiation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the interaction of hASCs within SPCL scaffolds with DCs, gathering further knowledge on the immunomodulatory potential of these constructs. Methods: SPCL scaffolds, obtained by wet spinning methodology (SPCL-WS), seeded with hASCs were cultured in standard cell culture conditions for 48h prior to contact directly with DCs for further 24h, 48h and 72h. DCs were differentiated from the mononuclear fraction of human peripheral blood cultured with IL-4 and GM-CSF for 48h. The maturate and activated phenotype of DCs was evaluated by flow cytometry and RT-PCR before and after culture with the TE constructs, and compared with mature DCs, expressing CD80, CD83, CD86 and MHC class-II and lacking CD14 after incubation with LPS.