The PPARβ/δ-induced mesenchymal stromal cell secretome has cytoprotective effects via ANGPTL4 in a pre-clinical model of acute lung inflammation

Tunstead, C.; Dunlop, M.; Ryan, S.; Volkova, E.; Johnston, E.; Batah, S.; Dos Santos, C. C.; McNicholas, B.; Masterson, C.; Laffey, J. G.; English, K.

doi:10.1101/2025.07.28.667170

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.07.28.667170

The PPARβ/δ-induced mesenchymal stromal cell secretome has cytoprotective effects via ANGPTL4 in a pre-clinical model of acute lung inflammation

Tunstead, C.·Dunlop, M.·Ryan, S.·Volkova, E.·Johnston, E.·Batah, S.·Dos Santos, C. C.·McNicholas, B.·Masterson, C.·Laffey, J. G.·English, K.

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Abstract

RationaleHuman bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hBM-MSCs) are known to exert immunomodulatory and pro-reparative effects in vivo. This makes hBM-MSCs an enticing therapeutic candidate for inflammatory diseases, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The ARDS microenvironment is complex and contains an abundance of free fatty acids (FFAs); which are known to differentially impact MSC functionality. PPAR{beta}/{delta} is a ubiquitously expressed nuclear receptor that is activated in response to FFA-binding. PPAR{beta}/{delta} has been shown to impact the therapeutic efficacy of mouse MSCs. ObjectiveThis study sought to investigate the impact of PPAR{beta}/{delta}-modulation on human MSC functionality in vitro and in vivo. MethodshBM-MSCs were exposed to a synthetic PPAR{beta}/{delta} agonist/antagonist in the presence or absence of ARDS patient serum and the immunomodulatory and pro-reparative capacity of the MSC secretome was investigated using in vitro assays and a pre-clinical model of LPS-induced acute lung inflammation (ALI). ResultsOur results highlighted enhanced pro-reparative capacity of PPAR{beta}/{delta}-agonised hBM-MSCs secretome in CALU-3 lung epithelial cells, mediated by MSC derived angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). PPAR{beta}/{delta}-induced ANGPTL4-high MSC secretome facilitated enhanced endothelial barrier integrity in the lungs of ALI mice. Therapeutic effects of PPAR{beta}/{delta}-agonised hBM-MSCs secretome were further enhanced by licensing MSCs with human ARDS patient serum. ARDS-licensed PPAR{beta}/{delta}-induced ANGPTL4-high MSC secretome had reduced clinical score and weight loss. The role ANGPL4 in these protective effects was confirmed using an anti-ANGPTL4 antibody. ConclusionThese findings conclude that the MSC secretome therapeutic effects can be enhanced both in vitro and in vivo through licensing strategies that upregulate the angiogenic factor ANGPTL4. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=145 SRC="FIGDIR/small/667170v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (44K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a03b3dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1915253org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b3fd4aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1ba27ff_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

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Tunstead, C., Dunlop, M., Ryan, S., Volkova, E., Johnston, E., Batah, S., Dos Santos, C. C., McNicholas, B., Masterson, C., Laffey, J. G., English, K.. 2025-07-31. The PPARβ/δ-induced mesenchymal stromal cell secretome has cytoprotective effects via ANGPTL4 in a pre-clinical model of acute lung inflammation. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.28.667170

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