Transmission of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus Produced from Different Recipient Cells In Vivo.
Humanized pigs have been developed to reduce the incidence of immune rejection in xenotransplantation, but significant concerns remain, such as transmission of viral zoonosis. Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV), which exist in the genome of pigs, are produced as infectious virions from all porcine cells and cause zoonosis. Here, we examined the possibility of zoonosis of hosts under conditions of immune suppression or xenotransplantation of cells producing host-adapted viruses. Upon transplantation of PERV-producing porcine cells into mice, no transmission of PERV was detected, whereas, transmission of PERV from mice transplanted with mouse-adapted PERV-producing cells was detected. In addition, the frequency of PERV transmission was increased in CsA treated mice transplanted with PERV-producing murine cells, compared with PERV-producing porcine cells. Transmission of PERV to host animals did not affect weight but immune responses, in particular, the number of T cells from PERV-transmitted mice, were notably reduced. The observed risk of PERV zoonosis highlights the requirement for thorough evaluation of viral zoonosis under particular host conditions, such as immunosuppressive treatment and transplantation with host-adapted virus-producing cells.
Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Nayoung
N
Kim
Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jiwon
J
Choi
Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sehyun
S
Kim
Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yong-Dae
YD
Gwon
Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yeondong
Y
Cho
Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jae Myung
JM
Yang
College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yu-Kyoung
YK
Oh
Department of Bio-industrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Young Bong
YB
Kim
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000032:analysis; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells / Q000637:transplantation / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology
D015686:Gene Products, env