title: Masking and reduction of the Galactose-alpha1,3-Galactose (alpha-Gal) epitope, the major xenoantigen in swine, by the glycosyltransferase gene transfection.
abstract: The alpha-Gal epitope (Gal-alpha1-3Gal-beta1-4-GlcNAc-R), which is biosynthesized by the UDP-Gal:alpha1-3-galactosyltransferase (alpha1, 3GT), is highly associated with hyperacute rejection in swine to human xenotransplantation. A variety of strategies have been pursued to reduce or eliminate this epitope from swine tissues. Since swine ES cells are not available at present, the targeted knock out of the alpha1,3GT is restricted. Other strategies, such as enzyme competition of the alpha1,3GT with other glycosyltransferases and/or control of sugar processing by the glycosyltransferases, provide a new insight into the downregulation of the alpha-Gal epitope. This review will focus on this type of strategy, which involves a gene transfection of variety of glycosyltransferases as competitors against alpha1,3GT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Division of Organ Transplantation, Biomedical Research Center, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyagawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanemura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koyota
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shirakura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014312:Trisaccharides; C076569:alpha-galactosyl epitope; D016695:Glycosyltransferases