title: Gal alpha(1-3)Gal expression of the cornea in vitro, in vivo and in xenotransplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate alpha Gal (Gal alpha1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-R) expression of the porcine cornea in vitro, in vivo and after xenotransplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the GS-IB4 lectin (Griffonia simplifolia I isolectin B4), the expression of alpha Gal was evaluated in the normal porcine cornea and in cultured corneal stromal and endothelial cells of the second passages. The distribution of alpha Gal epitopes was also evaluated in corneal grafts at 4, 7 and 10 days after pig-to-rat orthotopic corneal transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of alpha Gal was mostly confined to the anterior stromal keratocytes of the normal porcine cornea. However, reactivity for GS-IB4 was markedly increased during cell culture passage (P)-by 18.0% (P1) and 39.0% (P2) in cultivated keratocytes, and by 62.1% (P1) and 87.1% (P2) in cultured endothelial cells. The expression of alpha Gal epitopes was gradually enhanced in all corneal layers of the graft after transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alpha Gal expression in the cornea was gradually induced during in vitro culture and after xenotransplantation, suggesting a role of putative Gal-related acute humoral rejection in porcine corneal xenotransplantation.
authors.affiliation: Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Clinical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon Ii
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mee Kum
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jung Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Hyun Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won Ryang
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Jin Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000276:immunology; D015478:Antigens, Heterophile / Q000276:immunology; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D031295:Griffonia; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D015478:Antigens, Heterophile; D004187:Disaccharides; C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C055075:galactosyl-(1-3)galactose