Research article

Expression of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in keratinocytes mediates apoptotic cell death in allogenic T cells

Kerstin Reimers^1* , Christine Radtke^1* , Claudia Y Choi^1* , Christina Allmeling¹ , Susanne Kall¹ , Paul Kiefer² , Thomas Muehlberger¹ and Peter M Vogt¹

¹  Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical School Hannover Podbielskistraße 380, 30659 Hannover, Germany

²  University Duesseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

Annals of Surgical Innovation and Research 2009, 3:13doi:10.1186/1750-1164-3-13

Published:	19 November 2009

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the aptitude of TRAIL gene expression for inducing apoptosis in co-cultivated T-cells. This should allow preparing a strategy for the development of a durable, allogenic skin substitute based on the induction of an immune-privileged transplant. In order to counteract the significant potential of rejection in transplanted allogenic keratinocytes, we created a murine keratinocyte cell line which expressed TRAIL through stable gene transfer. The exogenic protein was localized on the cellular surface and was not found in soluble condition as sTRAIL. Contact to TRAIL expressing cells in co-culture induced cell death in sensitive Jurkat-cells, which was further intensified by lymphocyte activation. This cytotoxic effect is due to the induction of apoptosis. We therefore assume that the de-novo expression of TRAIL in keratinocytes can trigger apoptosis in activated lymphocytes and thus prevent the rejection of keratinocytes in allogenic, immune-privileged transplants.