RNA sequencing of mesenchymal stem cells reveals a blocking of differentiation and immunomodulatory activities under inflammatory conditions in rheumatoid arthritis patients

We identified the differentially expressed genes in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells after exposure to an inflammatory environment. The transcriptome profiling was evaluated by means of the precise measurement of transcripts provided by the RNA-Seq technology. Our results evidenced the existence of blocking of both regenerative (differentiation) and immunomodulatory phenotypes under inflammatory conditions characterized by an upregulation of genes involved in immune processes and a simultaneous downregulation of genes mainly involved in regenerative or cell differentiation functions. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from healthy donors were co-cultured with activated OR non activated pefipheral blood mononuclear cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients