title: [New evidence of porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission with new bio-artificial liver system: a experimental study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the potential transmissibility of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) from a newly-developed porcine hepatocyte bioartificial liver (BAL) system prior to human clinical trial by using a live canine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five normal beagles were treated with the new BAL support system for six hours. Samples of plasma from the BAL system and whole blood from the beagles were collected at regular intervals over the six month study period. DNA and RNA were isolated from both the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma for evaluation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, respectively, to detect PERV and the Sus scrofa cytochrome B normalization standard. In addition, RT activity and the in vitro infectivity of the plasma were detected in HEK293 cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All five beagles remained in stable physical health throughout the treatment and survived until the end of the study. PERV RNA-positivity and RT activity were only detected in the plasma samples from the 3rd BAL treatment cycle. All other samples, including PBMCs and plasma, were negative for PERV RNA, PERV DNA, and RT activity. In addition, none of the sera samples showed in vitro infectivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of our BAL system does not lead to PERV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated DrumTower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Xue-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jiang-qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jia-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yi-tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D019164:Liver, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine