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A role for CD95 ligand in preventing graft rejection

Nature volume 377, pages 630–632 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

TESTIS is a remarkable immune-privileged site, long known for its ability to support allogeneic and xenogeneic tissue transplants1á¤-4. Here we have investigated the molecular basis for testis immune privilege. Testis grafts derived from mice that can express functional CD95 (Fas or Apo-1) ligand5á¤-8 survived indefinitely when transplanted under the kidney capsule of allogeneic animals, whereas testis grafts derived from mutant gldmice, which express non-functional ligand8,9, were rejected. Further analysis of testis showed that CD95 ligand messenger RNA is constitutively expressed by testicular Sertoli cells, and that Sertoli cells from normal mice, but notgld mice, were accepted when transplanted into allogeneic recipients. CD95 ligand expression in the testis probably acts by inducing apoptotic cell death of CD95-expressing, recipient T cells activated in response to graft antigens. These findings indicate that CD95 ligand could be used to create immune-privileged tissue for a variety of transplant uses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, 80262, USA

    Donald Bellgrau, Jodene Moore & Richard C. Duke

  2. Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, 80262, USA

    Donald Bellgrau

  3. Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, 80262, USA

    Alex Franzusoff

  4. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, 80262, USA

    Richard C. Duke

  5. Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, San Diego, California, 92121, USA

    Daniel Gold

  6. Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, 38104, USA

    Helena Selawry

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  1. Donald Bellgrau
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  6. Richard C. Duke
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Bellgrau, D., Gold, D., Selawry, H. et al. A role for CD95 ligand in preventing graft rejection. Nature 377, 630–632 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377630a0

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