Up-regulated expression of decay-accelerating factor (CD55) confers increased complement resistance to sprouting neural cells.
We studied gene expression in relation to induced neural differentiation in a human neural crest-derived cell line, Paju. Messenger RNA isolated before and after treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was analyzed by differential display reverse transcription PCR. A strongly up-regulated expression of decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) was found to parallel the induced neural sprouting while the expression of two other complement regulatory proteins (CD59/protectin, CD46/membrane cofactor protein) remained unaltered during neural differentiation. The increased membrane expression of DAF, which was also seen on neural processes and growth cones, conferred elevated resistance to complement-mediated lysis. Our findings suggest that in sprouting neurons DAF expression is up-regulated to provide additional complement resistance to pathfinding axons/dendrites invading new environment. It is also suggested that membrane expression of DAF may constitute a marker of growing and regenerating neurons.
Zhang
K Z
KZ
Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Junnikkala
S
S
Erlander
M G
MG
Guo
H
H
Westberg
J A
JA
Meri
S
S
Andersson
L C
LC
D018958:CD55 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D018958:CD55 Antigens; D002273:Carcinogens; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate