The Effect of Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the Expression of Anti-Apoptotic Gene (Survivin) of Neutrophils in vitro Introduction & Objective: One of the current known effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is the modulation of immune system function. The immunomodulatory effects of these cells on the different types of immune system cells, including T and B lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells of some species, have been confirmed. Thus, the use of these cells in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is considered. Based on the importance of neutrophils as the first line of defense of the body and the use of MSCs in the treatment of various diseases, make important the interaction of MSCs and neutrophils. Therefore, in this study, the effect of equine bone marrow-MSCs (BM-MSCs) on the anti-apoptotic gene expression (Survivin) of peripheral blood neutrophils was investigated using quantitative gene expression analysis (qPCR). Method: The frozen characterized equine BM-MSCs were thawed and cultured. Then, isolated neutrophils from peripheral blood of the horse were co-cultured for 12 hours with MSCs (direct contact) or MSCsʹs supernatant (indirect contact). Different groups were included: only neutrophils (control), neutrophils with MSCs and neutrophils cultured with supernatant of MSCs. After 12 h of culture, neutrophils were harvested and their total RNA extracted. cDNA was synthesized and the expression of the survivin was evaluated using qPCR. Results: The results showed that neutrophil treatment with BM-MSCs or their supernatant increases the amount of survivin expression of them. Discussion and Conclusion: As the co-culture neutrophils with MSCs or their supernatant has led to an increase in the expression an anti-apoptotic gene, it is expected that MSCs or their secretions could improve neutrophil resistance to apoptosis as well as their performance.

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