title: Distribution of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus in Different Organs of the Hybrid of a Landrace and a Jeju Domestic Pig in Korea.
abstract: Xenotransplantation offers a solution to the shortage of available organs for transplantation, and the pig represents an ideal source of such organs. However, porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), whose genome is integrated in pigs, has been suggested to pose a potential risk of xenotransmission. Expression of PERVs in different organs of pigs was carefully measured at DNA, mRNA, and protein levels, providing information valuable for the application of pig organs in xenotransplantation. An analysis of PERV DNA showed that a very similar number of PERV copies was present in the genome of all organs, whereas mRNA and protein levels of PERV varied depending on the organ, with kidney, liver, and spleen expressing high levels of both mRNA and protein. In contrast, mRNA and protein levels were dissimilar in the lung and brain, where mRNA levels were low but protein levels were high. This discrepancy indicates that mRNA levels are not always reflected in protein expression. In addition, the difference between mRNA and protein highlights the importance of choosing the proper analysis method for diagnosing viral infection. In summary, this study provides insight into the distribution of PERV in various organs at the DNA, mRNA, and protein levels, and also informs the proper selection of tissues or organs for future clinical xenotransplantation.
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J K
authors: JK
authors: Yoon
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Y D
authors: YD
authors: Gwon
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Jang
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Choi
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: kimera@konkuk.ac.kr.
authors: Y B
authors: YB
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006321:Heart / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000821:virology; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013154:Spleen / Q000821:virology; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014764:Viral Proteins