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Placental mesenchymal stem cells from maternal decidua basalis tissue (DBMSCs) are promising cells for tissue repair because of their multilineage differentiation and ability to protect endothelial cells from injury. Here, we examined DBMSC interaction with macrophages and whether this interaction could modulate the characteristics and functions of these macrophages. We induced monocytes to differentiate into M1-like macrophages in the presence of DBMSCs. DBMSC effects on differentiation were evaluated using microscopy, flow cytometry, and ELISA. DBMSC effects on M1-like macrophage induction of T cell function were also examined. The culture of DBMSCs with monocytes did not inhibit monocyte differentiation into M1-like inflammatory macrophages. This was confirmed by the morphological appearance of M1-like macrophages, increased expression of inflammatory molecules, and reduced expression of anti-inflammatory molecules. In addition, DBMSCs did not interfere with M1-like macrophage phagocytic activity; rather, they induced stimulatory effects of M1-like macrophages on CD4⁺ T cell proliferation and subsequent secretion of inflammatory molecules by T cells. We showed that DBMSCs enhanced the differentiation of M1-like inflammatory macrophages, which function as antitumor cells. Therefore, our findings suggest that DBMSCs are inflammatory cells that could be useful in cancer treatment via the enhancement of M1- like macrophages., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Rhazya stricta Decne. is a medicinal plant that is widespread in Saudi Arabia and desert areas of the Arabian Peninsula. Its extract contains alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids that are involved in different biological activities. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of Rhazya stricta plant extracts on the proliferation and differentiation of NTERA-2 (NT2) pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells., Methods: Soxhlet extraction was carried out using different solvents to extract stems, leaves and fruit parts of this plant. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by an MTS cell viability assay. The ability of the plant extract to induce cell differentiation was examined phenotypically using an inverted light microscope. The expression of pluripotency markers was investigated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. Phytochemical screening of chloroform stem extracts was carried out and a chromatographic fingerprint was generated using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS)., Results: Chloroform stem extract induced differentiation of NT2 cells at 5 μg/ml, and the differentiated cells exhibited neurite formation. Following induction of differentiation, there was significant down-regulation of the pluripotency marker genes Oct4 and Sox2. In addition, the surface antigen pluripotency marker, TRA-1-60, was strongly down-regulated. Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed the presence of alkaloids and saponins. The chromatogram revealed the presence of fifteen compounds with different retention times., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate for the first time that chloroform stem extract of R. stricta can induce neuronal differentiation of stem cells at an early stage and may contain potential therapeutic agent that can be used in neurodegenerative diseases.