Background and aims: The effects of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the neutrophil functions has been revealed in recent documents. Moreover, it has been showed that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) express some of the nicotinic receptor subunits. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the secretory factors from mesenchymal stem cell pulsed with nicotine on the neutrophil functions.

Methods: After isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow of rats, these cells pulsed with different concentration of nicotine (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 µM) for 48h. Then, neutrophils were co-cultured with MSCs supernatants for 4 h and the functions of neutrophils were evaluated.

Results: The results showed that MSCs supernatants pulsed with nicotine could significantly enhance the viability and phagocytic activity of neutrophils more profound that MSCs supernatants without treatment. Furthermore, supernatants of MSCs treated with nicotine significantly reduced the respiratory burst and nitric oxide production of neutrophils more prominent than and /or supernatants of the MSCs without treatment.

Conclusion: Collectively, these findings may offer new insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of nicotine.