title: Unusual permeability of porcine endogenous retrovirus subgroup A through membrane filters.
abstract: In xenotransplantation from pigs to humans, a bio-artificial endocrine pancreas (Bio-AEP), in which pancreatic endocrine cells are encapsulated within a semipermeable membrane of 100 nm pore size, has been developed. We evaluated the permeability of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) through membrane filters using a pseudotype virus (LacZ(PERV-A)) containing a viral core derived from murine leukemia virus and an envelope (Env) from PERV subgroup A. Contrary to our expectations, LacZ(PERV-A) lost its infectivity by filtration through a 200 nm membrane filter. This unusual phenotype was not observed in pseudotype viruses harboring Envs from other gammaretroviruses. The infectivity of LacZ(PERV-A) was significantly decreased by repeated freeze/thaw treatment, indicating that LacZ(PERV-A) was physically labile. In addition, LacZ(PERV-A) may be agglutinated because copy numbers of viral RNA after filtration were significantly reduced by filtration through the 200 nm membrane. This phenotype is advantageous to develop a safe Bio-AEP blocking PERV infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakaya
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shojima
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010539:Permeability; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial