Testicular immunosuppressive protein.
Auto-, allo- and xenografts of various endocrine tissues survive for prolonged periods in the testicular interstitium. The reason for transplant survival outside the blood-testis barrier has been obscure. In the present paper we describe a high molecular weight (Mr = 130,000), heat- and pH-labile immunosuppressive factor with an isoelectric point of 6.3-7.3 in extracellular fluid collected from the rat testicular interstitium. The results show that the testicular immunosuppressive agent is not a steroid, but a protein. This testicular immunosuppressive protein may contribute to the immune privilege in the testicular interstitium.
Pöllänen
P
P
Department of Anatomy, University of Turku, Finland.
Söder
O
O
Uksila
J
J
D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D011924:Rats, Zucker
D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011506:Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A