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Published on: March 4, 2015
Up-regulated expression of decay-accelerating factor (CD55) confers increased complement resistance to sprouting
K Z Zhang1, S Junnikkala, M G Erlander
1Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
European Journal of Immunology
|May 16, 1998
Summary
Neural differentiation up-regulates decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) in human cells. This enhances complement resistance in sprouting neurons, potentially marking growing and regenerating nerve cells.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Neural differentiation involves complex gene expression changes.
- Complement regulatory proteins play roles in cellular defense and homeostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gene expression during induced neural differentiation.
- To identify complement regulatory proteins involved in neural sprouting.
- To determine the functional significance of altered protein expression in differentiating neurons.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Paju, a human neural crest-derived cell line.
- Analyzed messenger RNA using differential display reverse transcription PCR.
- Assessed membrane protein expression and complement-mediated lysis resistance.
Main Results:
- Decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) expression was significantly upregulated during neural differentiation.
- Increased DAF membrane expression was observed on neural processes and growth cones.
- Elevated DAF conferred increased resistance to complement-mediated lysis.
- Other complement regulatory proteins (CD59, CD46) showed unaltered expression.
Conclusions:
- DAF upregulation provides complement resistance to pathfinding axons and dendrites.
- Membrane DAF expression may serve as a marker for growing and regenerating neurons.
