Acute rejection is associated with antibodies to non-Gal antigens in baboons using Gal-knockout pig kidneys.
We transplanted kidneys from alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (GalT-KO) pigs into six baboons using two different immunosuppressive regimens, but most of the baboons died from severe acute humoral xenograft rejection. Circulating induced antibodies to non-Gal antigens were markedly elevated at rejection, which mediated strong complement-dependent cytotoxicity against GalT-KO porcine target cells. These data suggest that antibodies to non-Gal antigens will present an additional barrier to transplantation of organs from GalT-KO pigs to humans.
Chen
Gang
G
[1] Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada.
Qian
Hua
H
Starzl
Thomas
T
Sun
Hongtao
H
Garcia
Bertha
B
Wang
Ximo
X
Wise
Yishai
Y
Liu
Yuanqing
Y
Xiang
Ying
Y
Copeman
Laura
L
Liu
Weihua
W
Jevnikar
Anthony
A
Wall
William
W
Cooper
David K C
DK
Murase
Noriko
N
Dai
Yifan
Y
Wang
Wanyu
W
Xiong
Yuliang
Y
White
David J
DJ
Zhong
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D010215:Papio; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality*
D000906:Antibodies; D005700:Galactosyltransferases