Expression of the murine complement regulatory protein crry by glial cells and neurons.
The expression of the murine complement regulatory protein, Crry, in the CNS remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examined murine astrocytes and microglia purified from neonatal brain and sections of adult murine brain for the expression of Crry. Using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis, we demonstrated that astrocytes and microglia express Crry protein and RNA. Crry expression is greater on microglia than astrocytes and, as determined by Western blot analysis, each cell type expresses a Crry protein of different molecular weight. Interestingly, neuronal expression of Crry was seen only at the RNA level. These data demonstrate Crry expression by astrocytes, microglia, and neurons in the murine CNS and suggest that Crry may play an important role in protecting the CNS against complement-mediated damage.
Department of Microbiology and the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA.
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N
Davoust
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S
Nataf
V M
VM
Holers
S R
SR
Barnum
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003167:Complement Activation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C081470:Cr1l protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b