Xenotransplanted Pig Sertoli Cells Inhibit Both the Alternative and Classical Pathways of Complement-Mediated Cell Lysis While Pig Islets Are Killed.

ABSTRACT: Xenotransplantation has vast clinical potential but is limited by the potent immune responses generated against xenogeneic tissue. Immune-privileged Sertoli cells (SCs) survive xenotransplantation long term (≥90 days) without immunosuppression, making SCs an ideal model to identify xenograft survival mechanisms. Xenograft rejection includes the binding of natural and induced antibodies and the activation of the complement cascade. Using an in vitro cytotoxicity assay, wherein cells were cultured with human serum and complement, we demonstrated that neonatal pig SCs (NPSCs) are resistant to complement-mediated cell lysis and express complement inhibitory factors, membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46), and decay- accelerating factor (DAF; CD55) at significantly higher levels than neonatal pi

SUBMITTER: Wright K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6126928 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature