Human repair-related Schwann cells adopt functions of antigen-presenting cells in vitro

Abstract

The plastic potential of Schwann cells (SCs) is increasingly recognized to play a role after nerve injury and in diseases of the peripheral nervous system. In addition, reports on the interaction between SCs and immune cells indicate their involvement in inflammatory processes. However, data about the immunocompetence of human SCs are primarily derived from neuropathies and it is currently unknown whether SCs directly regulate an adaptive immune response after nerve injury. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the immunomodulatory capacities of human repair-related SCs (hrSCs), which recapitulate SC response to nerve injury in vitro. We used our previously established protocol for the culture of primary hrSCs from human peripheral nerves and analyzed the transcriptome, secretome, and cell surface proteins for signatures and markers relevant in innate and adaptive immunity, performed phagocytosis assays, and monitored T-cell subset activation in co-cultures with autologous human T-cells. Our findings show that hrSCs are highly phagocytic, which is in line with high MHCII expression. In addition, hrSCs express co-regulatory molecules, such as CD40, CD80, B7H3, CD58, CD86, HVEM, release a plethora of chemoattractants, matrix remodelling proteins and pro- as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines, and upregulate the T-cell inhibiting PD-L1 molecule upon pro-inflammatory stimulation with IFNgamma;. Furthermore, hrSC contact reduced the number and activation status of allogenic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. This study demonstrates that hrSCs possess features and functions typical for professional antigen presenting cells in vitro, and suggest a new role of these cells as negative regulators of T-cell immunity during nerve regeneration.