No transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus after transplantation of adult porcine islets into diabetic nude mice and immunosuppressed rats.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) occurs in a model of diabetes reversal by the xenotransplantation of adult porcine islets (APIs) into immunoincompetent diabetic rodents.

Methods: Black-6 nu/nu mice and Lewis rats were immunosuppressed with cyclosporin A (CsA) and FTY 720, and rendered diabetic with streptozotocin. Purified APIs were transplanted into the renal subcapsular space; 5,000 islet equivalents (IEQs) were used in the nude mice (n = 4) and 40,000 IEQs in the rats (n = 4).

Porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission characteristics of galactose alpha1-3 galactose-deficient pig cells.

Galactose alpha1-3 galactose (Gal) trisaccharides are present on the surface of wild-type pig cells, as well as on viruses particles produced from such cells. The recognition of Gal sugars by natural anti-Gal antibodies (NAb) in human and Old World primate serum can cause the lysis of the particles via complement-dependent mechanisms and has therefore been proposed as an important antiviral mechanism. Recently, pigs have been generated that possess disrupted galactosyl-transferase (GGTA1) genes.

Absence of replication-competent human-tropic porcine endogenous retroviruses in the germ line DNA of inbred miniature Swine.

The potential transmission of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) has raised concern in the development of porcine xenotransplantation products. Our previous studies have resulted in the identification of animals within a research herd of inbred miniature swine that lack the capacity to transmit PERV to human cells in vitro. In contrast, other animals were capable of PERV transmission.

Identification of exogenous forms of human-tropic porcine endogenous retrovirus in miniature Swine.

The replication of porcine endogenous retrovirus subgroup A (PERV-A) and PERV-B in certain human cell lines indicates that PERV may pose an infectious risk in clinical xenotransplantation. We have previously reported that human-tropic PERVs isolated from infected human cells following cocultivation with miniature swine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are recombinants of PERV-A with PERV-C. Here, we report that these recombinants are exogenous viruses in miniature swine; i.

Identification of receptors for pig endogenous retrovirus.

Xenotransplantation of porcine tissues has the potential to treat a wide variety of major health problems including organ failure and diabetes. Balanced against the potential benefits of xenotransplantation, however, is the risk of human infection with a porcine microorganism. In particular, the transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) is a major concern [Chapman, L.