CD36 GENE-TRANSFER CONFERS CAPACITY FOR PHAGOCYTOSIS OF CELLS UNDERGOING APOPTOSIS

Phagocyte recognition and ingestion of intact cells undergoing apoptos is are key events in this generally important program of cell death. I nsufficient phagocyte capacity for apoptotic cells can result in failu re to clear dying cells before membrane integrity is lost, resulting i n leakage of noxious cell contents and severe tissue damage. However, no means has been available to increase phagocytic clearance of apopto tic cells. We now report that transfection of the macrophage adhesion molecule CD36 into human Bowes melanoma cells specifically conferred g reatly increased capacity to ingest apoptotic neutrophils, lymphocytes , and fibroblasts, comparable to that exhibited by macrophages. Furthe rmore, when CD36 was transfected into another cell type with limited c apacity to take up apoptotic bodies, the monkey COS-7 cell, similar ef fects were observed. Therefore, CD36 gene transfer can confer ''profes sional'' capacity to ingest apoptotic cells upon ''amateur'' phagocyte s.