Human oligodendrocytes are not sensitive to complement. A study of CD59 expression in the human central nervous system.
BACKGROUND
One or more components of the oligodendrocyte-myelin unit are the target of immune attack in multiple sclerosis. The role of complement in this process has been suggested by the demonstration in vitro that rat oligodendrocytes are sensitive to lysis by Ab-independent complement attack, partly because of a lack of the complement regulatory protein molecule, CD59.


METHODS
This study assessed the sensitivity in vitro of human oligodendrocytes derived from neurosurgical specimens to complement attack and analyzed CD59 expression on their surface. The presence of CD59 was also examined in the human central nervous system during myelination and in both the normal and diseased adult brain.


RESULTS
Human oligodendrocytes are insensitive in vitro to complement attack in the absence of Ab and using the Ab YTH 53.1 and were shown to possess CD59 on their surface. CD59 is absent from the human central nervous system before myelination, at which stage strong expression occurs in areas of myelin production. CD59 expression is then normally down-regulated but is particularly strong in reactive astrocytes in diseases such as multiple sclerosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the previous demonstration of rat oligodendrocyte complement sensitivity and lack of CD59 expression do not extend to the human central nervous system. There may be a role for CD59 in normal human myelination.
Zajicek
J
J
University of Cambridge Neurology Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, England.
Wing
M
M
Skepper
J
J
Compston
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology*; D018957:CD59 Antigens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018957:CD59 Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins