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Updated: Nov 20, 2025
Transplantation of Pancreatic Islets Into the Kidney Capsule of Diabetic Mice
Published on: October 31, 2007
Inhibition of Dectin-1 on Dendritic Cells Prevents Maturation and Prolongs Murine Islet Allograft Survival
Ao Ren1,2,3, Zhongqiu Li1,2,3, Xuzhi Zhang1,2,3
1Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Introduction:
The ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to initiate an immune response or induce immune tolerance depends on their maturation status. Dendritic-cell-associated C-type lectin 1 (Dectin-1) plays a key role in the differentiation, activation, and maturation of DCs. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of Dectin-1 could prevent DC maturation and induce immune tolerance of transplanted organs.
Methods:
DCs were transduced with a recombinant lentiviral vector to inhibit Dectin-1 and then were injected into a murine recipient before islet transplantation. C57BL/6 mice (H-2b) were treated with lentiviral vector-Dectin-1-RNAi-DC (DC-Dectin-1-RNAi group), lentiviral vector-GFP DCs (DC-GFP group), and PBS (control group). Pancreatic islet transplantation was performed and graft survival was recorded. The proportions of regulatory T cells, Th1 cells, and Th17 cells in the spleen and draining lymph nodes, and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17, and interferon (INF)-γ were measured.
Results:
The inhibition of Dectin-1 resulted in low expression of MHC-II and costimulatory molecules in DCs. Murine recipients treated with DC-Dectin-1-RNAi had longer islet allograft survival time, a reduction in the levels of Th1 and Th17 cells and secreted cytokines, and an increase of Treg cells.
Conclusion:
The inhibition of Dectin-1 by recombinant lentiviral vector Dectin-1-RNAi inhibits the maturation and activation of DCs, affects the differentiation of T cell subsets, and prolongs allograft survival.
