Use of Sertoli cell transplants to provide local immunoprotection for tissue grafts.
The recent success of allogeneic islet transplantation for the treatment of type I diabetes has renewed interest in cell therapy for diseases of secretory cell dysfunction. Unfortunately, widespread clinical use of cell transplantation is limited by tissue availability and the need for long-term immunosuppresion. Testicular Sertoli cells can confer local immunoprotection for co-transplanted cells and may provide a means of overcoming the obstacles associated with cell transplantation. Sertoli cell grafts protect islets in animal models of diabetes and can be transplanted into the brain to enhance regeneration and promote the survival of co-grafted tissues. This review describes the role that Sertoli cells normally play in testicular immunology, details the preclinical data using transplanted Sertoli cells in models of diabetes and Parkinson's disease and discusses some of the possible mechanisms involved in this phenomena, as well as the future of this technology.
Halberstadt
Craig
C
Carolinas Medical Center, General Surgery Research, Cannon Research Center, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232-2861, USA. chalberstadt@carolinas.org
Emerich
Dwaine F
DF
Gores
Paul
P
D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy; D051381:Rats; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D019737:Transplants
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents