Expression of immunoglobulin gene with classical V-(D)-J rearrangement in mouse testis and epididymis.
Immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules have thus far been found only to be produced by differentiated B lymphocytes. As we know, immune privilege in the normal adult mouse testis exists to make these privileged sites generally free of patrolling immune cells and Igs. However, in this study, the expression of Ig in normal adult mouse testis and epididymis was detected. First, by IHC, a strong pattern of Ig expression was detected in the spermatogenic cells of adult mouse testis at different development stages. Second, by Western blot analysis, different strong bands of Igs in mouse testicular spermatogenic cells and epididymal epithelial cell extract were recognized using specific antibodies against IgG. More importantly, by ISH and cell sorting-related RT-PCR, rearranged Ig gamma chain and kappa chain transcripts were expressed in testicular spermatogenic cells and epididymal epithelial cells. These results suggested that Ig in testis and epididymis was mainly produced by adult mouse testicular spermatogenic cells and epididymal epithelial cells.
Huang
Jing
J
Center for Human Disease Genomics, Peking University, 38 Xue-yuan Road, 100083 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Zhang
Li
L
Ma
Teng
T
Zhang
Pei
P
Qiu
Xiaoyan
X
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000378:metabolism; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012333:RNA, Messenger