title: Initial in vitro studies on tissues and cells from GTKO/CD46/NeuGcKO pigs.
abstract: The impact that the absence of expression of NeuGc in pigs might have on pig organ or cell transplantation in humans has been studied in vitro, but only using red blood cells (pRBCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pPBMCs) as the target cells for immune assays. We have extended this work in various in vitro models and now report our initial results.
  
  
  
  The models we have used involve GTKO/hCD46 and GTKO/hCD46/NeuGcKO pig aortas and corneas, and pRBCs, pPBMCs, aortic endothelial cells (pAECs), corneal endothelial cells (pCECs), and isolated pancreatic islets. We have investigated the effect of the absence of NeuGc expression on (i) human IgM and IgG binding, (ii) the T-cell proliferative response, (iii) human platelet aggregation, and (iv) in an in vitro assay of the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) following exposure of pig islets to human blood/serum.
  
  
  
  The lack of expression of NeuGc on some pig tissues (aortas, corneas) and cells (RBCs, PBMCs, AECs) significantly reduces the extent of human antibody binding. In contrast, the absence of NeuGc expression on some pig tissues (CECs, isolated islet cells) does not reduce human antibody binding, possibly due to their relatively low NeuGc expression level. The strength of the human T-cell proliferative response may also be marginally reduced, but is already weak to GTKO/hCD46 pAECs and islet cells. We also demonstrate that the absence of NeuGc expression on GTKO/hCD46 pAECs does not reduce human platelet aggregation, and nor does it significantly modify the IBMIR to pig islets.
  
  
  
  The absence of NeuGc on some solid organs from GTKO/hCD46/NeuGcKO pigs should reduce the human antibody response after clinical transplantation when compared to GTKO/hCD46 pig organs. However, the clinical benefit of using certain tissue (e.g., cornea, islets) from GTKO/hCD46/NeuGcKO pigs is questionable.
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Whayoung
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ezzelarab
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bottino
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Revivicor, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Jagdeece
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramsoondar
authors.affiliation: Revivicor, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayares
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: David K C
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009438:Neuraminic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D009438:Neuraminic Acids; C032592:N-glycolylneuraminic acid; D005700:Galactosyltransferases
keywords: Islets; N-glycolylneuraminic acid; Pig; Xenotransplantation; cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase; galactose-α1,3-galactose; pancreatic; α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout