Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40770765›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

Palmitate enhances MSC immunomodulation of human macrophages via the ceramide/CCL2 axis in vitro.

Courteney Tunstead, Laura M Bitterlich, James A Ankrum, Andrew E Hogan, Karen English

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The PPARβ/Delta-Induced Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Secretome Has Cytoprotective Effects via ANGPTL4 in a Pre-Clinical Model of Acute Lung Inflammation.FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Courteney Tunstead *Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5343-7984
Laura M Bitterlich *Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4265-6660
James A AnkrumUniversity of Iowa Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3959-6158
Andrew E HoganKathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5875-230X
Karen EnglishKathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland. karen.english@mu.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7932-4256

Funding

National University of Ireland, Maynooth John & Pat Hume Doctoral AwardScience Foundation Ireland 16/RI/3399Science Foundation Ireland 20/FFP-A/8948
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe immunomodulatory function of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) strongly depends on external factors; such as cytokines and other signalling molecules encountered in the disease microenvironment. An insufficiently inflammatory environment can fail to activate MSCs, and certain signals can impair their function. Obesity is on the rise worldwide, making it an additional factor to be considered prior to MSC therapy, as the microenvironment presents its own challenges. Elevated levels of serum free fatty acids, specifically palmitate, have the potential to affect MSC therapy. Palmitate-exposure has been shown to impair MSC immunomodulation of T cells in vitro. However, this is yet to be studied in the context of macrophages.

methodsMSCs from three independent donors were exposed to 0.4mM of palmitate for 6-24 h. Gene expression, protein production and functional capacity were then assessed in response to palmitate. A ceramide synthesis inhibitor (Fumonisin B1) and a CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2)-neutralising antibody were further used to assess the impact of these components on palmitate-associated immunomodulation.

resultsWe demonstrated that palmitate-exposed MSCs have enhanced suppression of human monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) production of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), in a CCL2-dependent manner. We further elucidated parts of the pathway, such as ceramide synthesis, through which palmitate promotes this enhanced immunomodulation of macrophages.

conclusionPalmitate-exposed MSCs show enhanced immunomodulation of human MDMs, through the ceramide/CCL2 axis in vitro.

Indexed as

CeramidesChemokine CCL2ImmunomodulationMacrophagesMesenchymal Stem CellsPalmitatesCells, CulturedHumansSignal TransductionTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaCCL2 protein, humanCeramidesChemokine CCL2PalmitatesTumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Identifiers

PMID40770765
PMCPMC12329961

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.