ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Immune Rejection of iPS Cells Is Triggered By Gamete-Associated Proteins (GAPs)

E.-M. Kim, G. Manzar, N. Zavazava.

Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: B52

Keywords: Immunogenicity, Stem cells

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session B: Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapies

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Sunday, May 3, 2015

Session Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

 Presentation Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Exhibit Hall E

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have emerged as a new source for cell based therapies. However, the safety of iPS cells in autologous recipients has been questioned after it was reported that iPS cells, but not ES cells, were rejected in syngeneic recipient mice. Due to inadequate mechanistic studies this observation has remained controversial. Here, we hypothesized that iPS cells, but not ES cells, readily differentiate into gamete-forming cells that express meiotic and spermatogenesis-associated antigens which trigger rejection. To address this, 129 Svj iPS cells or ESCs expressing luciferase were separately transplanted s.c. into syngeneic mice. Syngeneic mice injected with ESCs developed a robust luciferase signal, whereas the same mice injected with iPS cells lost the luciferase signal after 2 weeks. In addition, EBs from iPS cells highly express meiotic (Stra8, Mga), primordial (Prdm1, Vasa, Stella) and spermatogenesis genes (Dazl) compared to EBs from ES cells in vitro. These genes are involved in meiosis and spermatogenesis. Disruption of the expression of Stra8, which is “one of the master regulators of r meiosis”, in iPS cells, using shRNA led to significant delay of iPS cell rejection. Furthermore, the expression of Stella, which is high in iPS-EBs, was not upregulated in ES-EBs treated with retinoic acid and testosterone, supporting our hypothesis that GAPs expressed after the initiation of meiosis in iPS cells were responsible for rejection of iPS cell, not ES cells. However, iPS cell-derived hematopoietic cells derived from iPS cells engraft in immunocompetent mice long-term, suggesting that iPS cell derivatives lose the ability to express GAPs, and are therefore safe for transplantation in syngeneic recipients. Our findings, for the first time, provide a unifying explanation of why iPS cells, but not ES cells, are rejected in syngeneic recipients, ending the current controversy on the safety of iPS cells and their derivatives.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Kim E-M, Manzar G, Zavazava N. Immune Rejection of iPS Cells Is Triggered By Gamete-Associated Proteins (GAPs) [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/immune-rejection-of-ips-cells-is-triggered-by-gamete-associated-proteins-gaps/. Accessed June 2, 2025.

« Back to 2015 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences