Abstract
Abstract
Objective
To characterize effects of inflammatory cytokine priming on viability, mitochondrial morphology, and extracellular vesicle (EV) cargo in feline placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).
Methods
Feline placenta-derived MSCs from 7 healthy cats were cultured under control, serum-deprived, or cytokine-stimulated (tumor necrosis factor–α, interferon-γ, IL-1, IL-6) conditions in vitro. Viability/apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry and mitochondrial morphology by confocal microscopy with MicroP/MATLAB; EVs were characterized by surface markers, RNA sequencing, and microRNA (miR) profiling.
Results
Viability exceeded 96% across all conditions, with no significant intergroup differences. Kiel 67 proliferation marker and metabolic activity were significantly reduced under serum–free and cytokine-stimulated conditions versus controls (both
P
Conclusions
Cytokine priming induces mitochondrial elongation and shifts EV cargo toward an immunosuppressive phenotype without compromising viability, supporting inflammatory priming as a strategy to optimize MSC-based therapies for T-cell–mediated inflammatory diseases.
Clinical Relevance
Inflammatory priming prior to MSC administration may enhance therapeutic efficacy in cats, supporting investigation of cytokine licensing as a translatable approach to improving MSC therapy outcomes in veterinary medicine.