J Korean Med Sci.  2007 Apr;22(2):277-282. 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.2.277.

Role of Complement Regulatory Proteins in the Survival of Murine Allo-transplanted Sertoli Cells

• Lee HM
• Oh BC
• Lim DP
• Lee DS
• Cho J
• Lee G
• Lee JR

• KMID: 1713188
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2007.22.2.277

Abstract

Sertoli cells (SC) are known to contain immunoprotective properties, which allow them to survive as allografts without the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Experiments were designed to determine which factors are related to prolonged survival of allogeneic SC. Balb/c derived Sertoli (TM4) and colon cancer (CT-26) cell lines were implanted beneath the kidney capsule of non-immunosuppressed C57BL/6 mice and compared their survival as allografts. Compared to TM4 graft, which survived more than 7 days after transplantation, CT-26 showed massive infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells, necrosis and enlargement of draining lymph nodes. Cultured cell lines showed no differences in their expression patterns of FasL, TGF beta1, clusterin and two complement regulatory proteins (CRP, i.e., membrane cofactor protein, MCP; decay accelerating factor, DAF), but protectin (CD59), another member of CRP was expressed only on TM4. These results suggest that CD59 and unknown factors may contribute to the prolonged survival of SC in non-immunoprivileged sites.

Keyword

Sertoli Cells; Fas Ligand; Transfroming Growth Factor Beta1; Clusterin; Complement Regulatory Protein; CD59

MeSH Terms

Transplantation, Homologous/immunology
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*immunology
Sertoli Cells/*immunology/*transplantation
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice
Male
Graft Survival/*immunology
Female
Fas Ligand Protein/*immunology
Complement System Proteins/*immunology
Clusterin/*immunology
Cells, Cultured
Cell Survival
Animals

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Photomicrographs of allografts stained with hematoxylin and eosin at POD 2. Abundant grafted cells were detected under the kidney capsule of both groups (A and B, TM4; C and D, CT-26) and overlying the kidney. There are few lymphocyte infiltration (arrows). Original magnification ×40 (A and C) and ×200 (B and D).

• 

  Fig. 2 Photomicrographs of allografts stained with hematoxylin and eosin at POD 7. There are focal infiltration of lymphocytes in TM4 grafts (A and B), whereas the CT-26 graft shows PMN infiltration and central necrosis (C and D). Arrows indicate infiltrated lymphocytes and PMN. Original magnification ×40 (A and C) and ×200 (B and D).

• 

  Fig. 3 Expressions of FasL (upper panel) and TGFβ1 (lower panel) in cultured cell lines. FACS analysis shows the similar expression of FasL and TGFβ1. Control analyses (thin line) involve only the fluorescent secondary antibody.

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  Fig. 4 RT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression in cultured cell lines. Each lane shows the mRNA expression in TM4 (T), CT-26 (C), and control (mouse testis, Ctl). There were no remarkable differences in the expression of FasL, TGFβ1, MCP, and DAF. Clusterin expression shows relatively high in CT-26. Of interest, CD59 mRNA was expressed only in TM4.

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