28 March 2008
No transmission of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in a long-term pig to rat xenotransplantation model and no infection of immunosuppressed rats
Joachim Denner, Volker Specke, Alexander Karlas, Irina Chodnevskaja, Thomas Meyer, Vasiliy Moskalenko, Reinhard Kurth, Karin UlrichsAnn Transplant 2008; 13(1): 20-31 :: ID: 843640
Abstract
Background: Xenotransplantation from pig to humans may be associated with the risk of transmission of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) that are present in the genome of all pigs and that infect human cells in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether PERVs infect transplant recipients in vivo and, if so, whether they are pathogenic. It is therefore essential to perform in vivo infection studies in animal models.
Material/Methods: To study PERV transmission in rats, rat primary cells and cell lines were treated in vitro with virus from different sources. Based on the assumption that susceptible cell lineages not yet tested in vitro could be present in the animal, PERV was inoculated into naïve and immunosuppressed animals. To investigate PERV transmission in a long-term exposure experiment, sera from animals grafted with pig Langerhans islet cells were tested in a Western blot assay for antibodies against PERVs. The animals were treated with streptozotocin to induce diabetes and microencapsulated and non-microencapsulated pig islet cells were applied without immunosuppression.
Results: No productive infection of a few selected rat primary cells or cell lines was observed in vitro. PERV-specific antibodies were found in none of the animals and no integration of PERV into rat cells of different organs was observed, indicating that infection had not occurred.
Conclusions: This report demonstrates a lack of infection of rats in vivo even during immunosuppression or long-term exposure (up to 460 days) to a functioning xenotransplant. This report also shows that rats possibly due to a low receptor concentration on their cells are not a suitable animal model to study PERV transmission in vivo.
Keywords: Xenotransplantation, diabetes, porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs), islet microencapsulation
In Press
08 Mar 2024 : Original article
Association of Coronary Calcium Score on Cardiac PET During Pre-Kidney Transplant Assessment with Persisten...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.943532
14 Mar 2024 : Original article
Impact of Blood Products Transfusion on Patients in the Immediate Post-Lung Transplant Period: A Cohort StudyAnn Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.943652
14 Mar 2024 : Case report
Treatment of Cavernous Transformation of Portal Vein Caused by Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis Using Ex Vivo ...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.942358
15 Mar 2024 : Review article
Approaches and Challenges in the Current Management of Cytomegalovirus in Transplant Recipients: Highlighti...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.941185
Most Viewed Current Articles
05 Apr 2022 : Original article
Impact of Statins on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Living-Donor Liver TransplantationDOI :10.12659/AOT.935604
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e935604
12 Jan 2022 : Original article
Risk Factors for Developing BK Virus-Associated Nephropathy: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study of ...DOI :10.12659/AOT.934738
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e934738
22 Nov 2022 : Original article
Long-Term Effects of Everolimus-Facilitated Tacrolimus Reduction in Living-Donor Liver Transplant Recipient...DOI :10.12659/AOT.937988
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e937988
15 Mar 2022 : Case report
Combined Liver, Pancreas-Duodenum, and Kidney Transplantation for Patients with Hepatitis B Cirrhosis, Urem...DOI :10.12659/AOT.935860
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e935860