Logo Annals of Transplantation Logo Annals of Transplantation Logo Annals of Transplantation

05 December 2008

No evidence for PERV release by islet cells from German landrace pigs

Markus Irgang, Christine Laue, Florian Velten, Reinhard Kurth, Jürgen Schrezenmeier, Joachim Denner

Ann Transplant 2008; 13(4): 59-66 :: ID: 880220

Abstract

Background: Islet cells from pig could be used as an alternative to the current treatment of diabetic patients. However, 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 infect human cells in vitro. Although transplantation of pig islet cells for treatment of diabetes may be not accompanied by immunosuppression that may facilitate virus survival, since islets will be used encapsulated, it is nevertheless of importance to study whether islet cells release PERVs able to infect human cells during co-incubation.
Material/Methods: Isolated islets from German landrace pigs were incubated with highly susceptible human 293 cells for one week. In order to prevent microchimerism  293 cells were made neomycin-resistant (293[sup]neo+[/sup]), that allows the elimination of pig cells by a selection medium. The infection of 293[sup]neo+ [/sup]target cells was analysed by PCR using PERV-specific primers up to five weeks after co-cultivation. In addition, expression of viral mRNA in pig islet cells was studied by RT-PCR analysis, the expression of viral protein by FACS analysis.
Results: Despite the presence of numerous PERV proviruses in the genome of all pigs, no expression of PERV was observed in German landrace pig islet cells, neither as mRNA, nor as protein, nor as viral particles.
Conclusions: Islet cells from German landrace pigs do not express PERVs and may therefore be used for breeding genetically modified pigs suitable for xenotransplantation and treatment of diabetes.

Keywords: Xenotransplantation, Diabetes, Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERV), islet cells

Add Comment 0 Comments

Most Viewed Current Articles

15 Aug 2023 : Review article   7,203

Free-Circulating Nucleic Acids as Biomarkers in Patients After Solid Organ Transplantation

DOI :10.12659/AOT.939750

Ann Transplant 2023; 28:e939750

03 Jan 2023 : Original article   7,086

Impact of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation on Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma in First-Line and...

DOI :10.12659/AOT.938467

Ann Transplant 2023; 28:e938467

16 May 2023 : Original article   6,914

Breaking Antimicrobial Resistance: High-Dose Amoxicillin with Clavulanic Acid for Urinary Tract Infections ...

DOI :10.12659/AOT.939258

Ann Transplant 2023; 28:e939258

28 May 2024 : Original article   6,394

Effect of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Remifentanil on Emergence Agitation During Awakening from Sevoflura...

DOI :10.12659/AOT.943281

Ann Transplant 2024; 29:e943281

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Annals of Transplantation eISSN: 2329-0358
Annals of Transplantation eISSN: 2329-0358