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CD36 gene transfer confers capacity for phagocytosis of cells undergoing apoptosis. J Exp Med 1995 May 01;181(5):1857-62

Date

05/01/1995

Pubmed ID

7536797

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2192004

DOI

10.1084/jem.181.5.1857

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0028917593 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   355 Citations

Abstract

Phagocyte recognition and ingestion of intact cells undergoing apoptosis are key events in this generally important program of cell death. Insufficient phagocyte capacity for apoptotic cells can result in failure to clear dying cells before membrane integrity is lost, resulting in leakage of noxious cell contents and severe tissue damage. However, no means has been available to increase phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells. We now report that transfection of the macrophage adhesion molecule CD36 into human Bowes melanoma cells specifically conferred greatly increased capacity to ingest apoptotic neutrophils, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts, comparable to that exhibited by macrophages. Furthermore, when CD36 was transfected into another cell type with limited capacity to take up apoptotic bodies, the monkey COS-7 cell, similar effects were observed. Therefore, CD36 gene transfer can confer "professional" capacity to ingest apoptotic cells upon "amateur" phagocytes.

Author List

Ren Y, Silverstein RL, Allen J, Savill J

Author

Roy L. Silverstein MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Antigens, CD
Apoptosis
CD36 Antigens
Cell Line
Humans
Macrophages
Phagocytosis
Transfection