title: Disparate hypervariable region-1 of mitochondrial DNA did not induce skin allograft rejection in cloned porcine models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alloantigen recognition in skin transplantation is the bane for surgeons. Several studies have mainly focused on the immunogenicity of major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens and H-Y minor histocompatibility antigens. However, the roles of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encorded miHA have not been identified. Therefore, we sought to address the antigenicity of the hypervariable region 1 (HV-1) of mtDNA in skin transplantation using cloned pig models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swine leukocyte antigen and HV-1 of mtDNA were analyzed using sequencing methods. Skin transplantation was performed between MHC-matched, mtDNA-mismatched cloned miniature pigs. Full-thickness skin was grafted between cloned pigs without any immunosuppressants. The grafted tissues were observed for 3 months and evaluated histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cloned pigs shared identical MHC but mtDNA mismatched at 9 positions. Skin grafts between the cloned pigs were accepted and hair growth maintained, whereas MHC-mismatched grafts showed acute rejection within 7 days after transplantation and were replaced by hairless scar tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HV-1 disparate skin grafts were not recognized as alloantigenic by MHC-matched cloned pigs.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Institute, Kangwon National University, ChunCheon, Gangwon-do, Korea.
authors.forename: H-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: K-M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H-S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: S-M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H-M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019976:Cloning, Organism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics; D023421:Models, Animal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial