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

Rationale: Human 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. PPARβ/𝛅 is a ubiquitously expressed nuclear receptor that is activated in response to FFA-binding. It has shown to impact the therapeutic efficacy of mouse MSCs. Objective: This study sought to investigate the impact of PPARβ/𝛅-modulation on MSC functionality in vitro and in vivo. Methods: hBM-MSCs were exposed to a synthetic PPARβ/𝛅 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). Results: Our results highlighted that the secretome from PPARβ/𝛅-agonised hBM-MSCs had enhanced pro-reparative capacity in CALU-3 lung epithelial cells by promoting the secretion of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). This PPARβ/𝛅-induced ANGPTL4-high MSC secretome also showed enhanced cytoprotection, wound repair, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice in a pre-clinical model of ALI. Importantly LPS-ALI mice that received PPARβ/𝛅-induced ANGPTL4-high MSC secretome had reduced clinical score and weight loss. This was confirmed using an anti-ANGPTL4 antibody. Conclusion: These findings conclude that the PPARβ/𝛅-induced ANGPTL4-high MSC secretome has anti-inflammatory, reparative and cytoprotective effects in a pre-clinical model of ALI.