The effect of LCN2 treatment on anti-inflammatory bone marrow derived macrophages. The effect of LCN2 treatment on anti-inflammatory bone marrow derived macrophages

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the most efficacious treatment for many hematological malignancies. However, its therapeutic potential is affected by the most prominent side effect graft versus host disease. Despite advances in the treatment of graft versus host disease in recent years, morbidity and mortality remains high, which requires the development of new treatment approaches. We therefore implemented mouse models to assess potential treatment options for graft versus host disease. In in vivo experiments, we had observed a protective effect of LCN2 on graft versus host disease of the gastrointestinal tract. We also observed higher numbers of anti-inflammatory macrophages in the intestinal tissues of these animals. Therefore, we aimed to determine potentially regulated genes in these cells by using an in vitro approach of LCN2-treated macrophages. Overall design: Bone marrow from healthy C57BL/6 mice was collected and seeded in cell culture dishes with complete media (10 % low endotoxin FCS, 1 % PenStrep, 20 ng/ml mCSF). Cells were cultured for seven days with or without supplementation of 150 ng/ml rmLCN2. On day 7, cells were stimulated with 20 ng/ml rmIL-4 towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype. A third group was treated with LCN2 at this time point. After 24 hours of stimulation, cells were harvested for further processing.