In vivo model for cross-species porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission using tissue engineered pulmonary arteries.
OBJECTIVE
Acellularised porcine scaffolds have been successfully used for cardiovascular tissue engineering. However, there is concern about the possibility of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) transmission. In this study we developed an in vivo model for cross-species PERV transmission.


METHODS
In vitro autologous repopulated porcine pulmonary arteries (n=6) were implanted in sheep in orthotopic position. Blood samples were collected regularly up to 6 months after implantation and tested for PERV by means of polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Explanted tissue engineered pulmonary arteries were tested for PERV sequences.


RESULTS
PERV DNA was detectable in acellularised porcine scaffolds. No PERV sequences were detectable 6 months after implantation of in vitro repopulated acellularised porcine pulmonary arteries and in all tested peripheral blood samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Acellularised porcine matrix scaffolds can be used for cardiovascular tissue engineering of autologous grafts without risk of PERV transmission.
Walles
Thorsten
T
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany. walles@thg.mh-hannover.de
Lichtenberg
Arthur
A
Puschmann
Carmen
C
Leyh
Rainer
R
Wilhelmi
Mathias
M
Kallenbach
Klaus
K
Haverich
Axel
A
Mertsching
Heike
H
D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000821:virology; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D012756:Sheep; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014162:Transfection; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D004279:DNA, Viral