Effects of SOCS1-overexpressing dendritic cells on Th17- and Treg-related cytokines in COPD mice

Background In this study, we established a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by stimulating mice with cigarette smoke, and observed the effects of dendritic cells (DCs) overexpressing SOCS1 on Th17, Treg and other related cytokines in peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues of COPD mice. Methods After successfully transfecting DCs with overexpressing SOCS1 (DC-SOCS1), the mice were injected with DC-SOCS1 (1 × 10 6 ), DC-SOCS1 (2 × 10 6 ) and immature DCs (1 × 10 6 ) via tail vein on days 1 and 7 of COPD fumigation modeling. After day 28 of modeling, the peripheral blood, BALF and lung tissue samples were extracted from the mice, and the changes of DCs, Th17 and Treg cells and related cytokines were detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, HE staining, flow cytometry and ELISA. Results The results showed that DC-SOCS1 was able to reduce the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors and increase the anti-inflammatory factors in the COPD mice, and the effect of high concentration (2 × 10 6 DC-SOCS1) was better than low concentration (1 × 10 6 DC-SOCS1). Moreover, the intervention effect was significant on day 1 compared with day 7. In the mice injected with DC-SOCS1, the expression of CD83, IL-4, Foxp3, and CCR6 was increased on day 1 than those on day 7, while IL-17 and IFN-γ was decreased. Conclusions Intervention of COPD mice with high concentrations of DCs-SOCS1 reduced pro-inflammatory factor secretion and attenuated the inflammatory response in COPD. Trial registration Not applicable.