The rescue effect of mesenchymal stem cell on sodium iodate-induced retinal pigment epithelial cell death through deactivation of NF-κB-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease resulting in the gradual loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the permanent visual damage. Various risk factors, including oxidative stress, form a complex network at the confluence of inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is a well-studied population of adult stem cell with strong neuroprotective and immunoregulatory properties. Here, we reported the protective effect of MSC on sodium iodate (NaIO3)-triggered RPE degeneration. Sodium iodate (NaIO3)-induced RPE cell death was remarkably reduced when cocultured with MSC. Inhibition of several cell death pathways mediated by mitochondrial instability and its subsequent caspase-1/3/8 activation was implicated in this process. In addition, NLRP3 inflammasome, the upstream of caspase-1 activation, was also found downregulated via suppressing its priming signal NF-κB pathway. Taken together, MSC protected against NaIO3-triggered RPE death via deactivating NF-κB-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome and maintaining mitochondrial integrity. This study highlights the significant role of MSC in modulating the proinflammatory environment of AMD, and suggests the clinical value of MSC in treating AMD as well as RPE replacement therapy.