Existence of proviral porcine endogenous retrovirus in fresh and decellularised porcine tissues.
OBJECTIVE
Swine are expected to be utilized as xenograft donors for both whole organ and cellular transplantation. A major concern in using porcine organs for transplantation is the potential of transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV). Tissue-engineered or decellularised heart valves have already been implanted in humans and have been marketed by certain companies after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The aim of this study was to examine the existence of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) in fresh and decellularised porcine tissues.


METHODS
Porcine tissues (both fresh and decellularised) were analysed using validated assays specific for PERV: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
PERV specific GAG sequences were found in the porcine heart tissue samples using PCR for DNA and RT- PCR for RNA. All tissue samples (both fresh and treated tissues) like aortic valve, pulmonary valve and heart muscle showed the presence of PERV DNA. RT PCR for PERV was positive in all fresh tissues and was found to be negative in decellularised treated tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
PCR is a rapid, specific test for the detection of PERV virus in xenografts. These findings have demonstrated that the presence of proviral DNA form of PERV in porcine tissues needs to be carefully considered when the infectious disease potential of xenotransplantation is being assessed.
Prabha
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Department of Microbiology, International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases, Frontier Lifeline Pvt Ltd, Dr. K.M. Cherian Heart Foundation, R-30-C, Ambattur Industrial Estate Road, Chennai - 600 101, India. suji_prabha@sify.com
Verghese
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D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000821:virology; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015750:Genes, gag; D006321:Heart / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000009:adverse effects; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous