title: In vivo model for cross-species porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission using tissue engineered pulmonary arteries.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany. walles@thg.mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walles
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lichtenberg
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puschmann
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leyh
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilhelmi
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallenbach
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haverich
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mertsching
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral