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Lopez KJ, Spence JP, Li W, Zhang W, Wei B, Cross-Najafi AA, Butler JR, Cooper DKC, Ekser B, Li P. Porcine UL-16 Binding Protein 1 Is Not a Functional Ligand for the Human Natural Killer Cell Activating Receptor NKG2D. Cells 2023; 12:2587. [PMID: 37998322 PMCID: PMC10670462 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in xenotransplantation rejection. One approach to induce NK cell immune tolerance is to prevent the NK cell-mediated direct killing of porcine cells by targeting the interaction of the activating receptor NKG2D and its ligands. However, the identity of porcine ligands for the human NKG2D receptor has remained elusive. Previous studies on porcine UL-16 binding protein 1 (pULBP-1) as a ligand for human NKG2D have yielded contradictory results. The goal of the present study was to clarify the role of pULBP-1 in the immune response and its interaction with human NKG2D receptor. To accomplish this, the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool was employed to disrupt the porcine ULBP-1 gene in a 5-gene knockout porcine endothelial cell line (GGTA1, CMAH, β4galNT2, SLA-I α chain, and β-2 microglobulin, 5GKO). A colony with two allele mutations in pULBP-1 was established as a 6-gene knockout pig cell line (6GKO). We found that pULBP-1-deficient pig cells exhibited a reduced binding capacity to human NKG2D-Fc, a recombinant chimera protein. However, the removal of ULBP-1 from porcine endothelial cells did not significantly impact human NK cell degranulation or cytotoxicity upon stimulation with the pig cells. These findings conclusively demonstrate that pULBP-1 is not a crucial ligand for initiating xenogeneic human NK cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J. Lopez
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (K.J.L.); (W.Z.); (B.W.); (A.A.C.-N.); (J.R.B.)
| | - John Paul Spence
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (K.J.L.); (W.Z.); (B.W.); (A.A.C.-N.); (J.R.B.)
| | - Barry Wei
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (K.J.L.); (W.Z.); (B.W.); (A.A.C.-N.); (J.R.B.)
| | - Arthur A. Cross-Najafi
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (K.J.L.); (W.Z.); (B.W.); (A.A.C.-N.); (J.R.B.)
| | - James R. Butler
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (K.J.L.); (W.Z.); (B.W.); (A.A.C.-N.); (J.R.B.)
| | - David K. C. Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA;
| | - Burcin Ekser
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (K.J.L.); (W.Z.); (B.W.); (A.A.C.-N.); (J.R.B.)
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (K.J.L.); (W.Z.); (B.W.); (A.A.C.-N.); (J.R.B.)
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Li P, Walsh JR, Lopez K, Isidan A, Zhang W, Chen AM, Goggins WC, Higgins NG, Liu J, Brutkiewicz RR, Smith LJ, Hara H, Cooper DKC, Ekser B. Genetic engineering of porcine endothelial cell lines for evaluation of human-to-pig xenoreactive immune responses. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13131. [PMID: 34162938 PMCID: PMC8222275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92543-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Xenotransplantation (cross-species transplantation) using genetically-engineered pig organs offers a potential solution to address persistent organ shortage. Current evaluation of porcine genetic modifications is to monitor the nonhuman primate immune response and survival after pig organ xenotransplantation. This measure is an essential step before clinical xenotransplantation trials, but it is time-consuming, costly, and inefficient with many variables. We developed an efficient approach to quickly examine human-to-pig xeno-immune responses in vitro. A porcine endothelial cell was characterized and immortalized for genetic modification. Five genes including GGTA1, CMAH, β4galNT2, SLA-I α chain, and β2-microglobulin that are responsible for the production of major xenoantigens (αGal, Neu5Gc, Sda, and SLA-I) were sequentially disrupted in immortalized porcine endothelial cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The elimination of αGal, Neu5Gc, Sda, and SLA-I dramatically reduced the antigenicity of the porcine cells, though the cells still retained their ability to provoke human natural killer cell activation. In summary, evaluation of human immune responses to genetically modified porcine cells in vitro provides an efficient method to identify ideal combinations of genetic modifications for improving pig-to-human compatibility, which should accelerate the application of xenotransplantation to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Julia R Walsh
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Kevin Lopez
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Abdulkadir Isidan
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Angela M Chen
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - William C Goggins
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Jianyun Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Randy R Brutkiewicz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lester J Smith
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,3D Bioprinting Core, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Birmingham at Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Birmingham at Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Burcin Ekser
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Abstract
Porcine cloning technology can be used to produce progenies genetically identical to the donor cells from high-quality breeding pigs. In addition, genetically modified pigs have been produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer using genetically modified porcine fetal fibroblasts. The method of preparing genetically modified pigs is critical for establishing pig models for human diseases, and for generating donor animals for future xenotransplantation. This chapter describes detailed procedures for generating cloned pigs using fetal fibroblasts as nuclear donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongsheng Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Jianyong Han
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongye Huang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Song J, Zhang J, Xu J, Garcia-Barrio M, Chen YE, Yang D. Genome engineering technologies in rabbits. J Biomed Res 2021; 35:135-147. [PMID: 32934190 PMCID: PMC8038526 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.34.20190133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The rabbit has been recognized as a valuable model in various biomedical and biological research fields because of its intermediate size and phylogenetic proximity to primates. However, the technology for precise genome manipulations in rabbit has been stalled for decades, severely limiting its applications in biomedical research. Novel genome editing technologies, especially CRISPR/Cas9, have remarkably enhanced precise genome manipulation in rabbits, and shown their superiority and promise for generating rabbit models of human genetic diseases. In this review, we summarize the brief history of transgenic rabbit technology and the development of novel genome editing technologies in rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Song
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Minerva Garcia-Barrio
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Paris LL, Estrada JL, Li P, Blankenship RL, Sidner RA, Reyes LM, Montgomery JB, Burlak C, Butler JR, Downey SM, Wang ZY, Tector M, Tector AJ. Reduced human platelet uptake by pig livers deficient in the asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 protein. Xenotransplantation 2015; 22:203-10. [PMID: 25728617 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lethal thrombocytopenia that accompanies liver xenotransplantation is a barrier to clinical application. Human platelets are bound by the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGR) on pig sinusoidal endothelial cells and phagocytosed. Inactivation of the ASGR1 gene in donor pigs may prevent xenotransplantation-induced thrombocytopenia. METHODS Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) were targeted to the ASGR1 gene in pig liver-derived cells. ASGR1 deficient pig cells were used for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). ASGR1 knock out (ASGR1-/-) fetal fibroblasts were used to produce healthy ASGR1 knock out piglets. Human platelet uptake was measured in ASGR1+/+ and ASGR1-/- livers. RESULTS Targeted disruption of the ASGR1 gene with TALENs eliminated expression of the receptor. ASGR1-/- livers phagocytosed fewer human platelets than domestic porcine livers during perfusion. CONCLUSIONS The use of TALENs in liver-derived cells followed by SCNT enabled the production of healthy homozygous ASGR1 knock out pigs. Livers from ASGR1-/- pigs exhibit decreased human platelet uptake. Deletion of the ASGR1 gene is a viable strategy to diminish platelet destruction in pig-to-human xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leela L Paris
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jose L Estrada
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ross L Blankenship
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Richard A Sidner
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Luz M Reyes
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Christopher Burlak
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - James R Butler
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Susan M Downey
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Zheng-Yu Wang
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Matthew Tector
- Transplant Department, University Hospital, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - A Joseph Tector
- Department of Surgery, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Production of healthy cloned pigs with neural stem cells as nuclear donors. Anim Biotechnol 2014; 25:294-305. [PMID: 24813221 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2013.872119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of the present study were to establish a porcine neural stem cell (NSC) line and to determine if these NSCs could be used to produce cloned pigs. NSCs were isolated from the brains of three embryonic day 30 fetal pigs and were induced to differentiate in vitro . NSCs and the differentiated cells were harvested for analysis of markers by immunostaining and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The NSCs at passage 10 were used for nuclear transfer, and the cloned embryos at the two-cell stage were transferred into the oviducts of surrogate mothers. The results showed that three NSC lines (2 male and 1 female) were successfully established. All NSCs at passage 17 continued to express nestin and Sox2. NSCs could differentiate into neurons (TUBB3+), astrocytes (GFAP+), and oligodendrocytes (O4+). After NSC nuclear transfer, 2020 two-cell stage embryos formed. After embryo transfer, 6 of 10 surrogates were pregnant, and 40 piglets (18 males and 22 females) were born. Twenty-two of these piglets reached sexual maturity and were found to be fertile. The other piglets died within 45 days post-partum. In conclusion, 3 porcine NSC lines capable of self-renewal and differentiation were established, and the cloned embryos derived from these cells could develop to term. Thus, NSCs could be efficient alternative nuclear donors for pig cloning.
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Lutz AJ, Li P, Estrada JL, Sidner RA, Chihara RK, Downey SM, Burlak C, Wang ZY, Reyes LM, Ivary B, Yin F, Blankenship RL, Paris LL, Tector AJ. Double knockout pigs deficient in N-glycolylneuraminic acid and galactose α-1,3-galactose reduce the humoral barrier to xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation 2013; 20:27-35. [PMID: 23384142 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical xenotransplantation is not possible because humans possess antibodies that recognize antigens on the surface of pig cells. Galα-1,3-Gal (Gal) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) are two known xenoantigens. METHODS We report the homozygous disruption of the α1, 3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) and the cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) genes in liver-derived female pig cells using zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs). Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) was used to produce healthy cloned piglets from the genetically modified liver cells. Antibody-binding and antibody-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays were used to examine the immunoreactivity of pig cells deficient in Neu5Gc and Gal. RESULTS This approach enabled rapid production of a pig strain deficient in multiple genes without extensive breeding protocols. Immune recognition studies showed that pigs lacking both CMAH and GGTA1 gene activities reduce the humoral barrier to xenotransplantation, further than pigs lacking only GGTA1. CONCLUSIONS This technology will accelerate the development of pigs for xenotransplantation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Lutz
- Department of Surgery, IU Health Transplant Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Abstract
In 2001, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, described the isolation of a new population of adult stem cells from liposuctioned adipose tissue. These stem cells, now known as adipose-derived stem cells or ADSCs, have gone on to become one of the most popular adult stem cells populations in the fields of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. As of today, thousands of research and clinical articles have been published using ASCs, describing their possible pluripotency in vitro, their uses in regenerative animal models, and their application to the clinic. This paper outlines the progress made in the ASC field since their initial description in 2001, describing their mesodermal, ectodermal, and endodermal potentials both in vitro and in vivo, their use in mediating inflammation and vascularization during tissue regeneration, and their potential for reprogramming into induced pluripotent cells.
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Li P, Estrada JL, Burlak C, Tector AJ. Biallelic knockout of the α-1,3 galactosyltransferase gene in porcine liver-derived cells using zinc finger nucleases. J Surg Res 2012; 181:e39-45. [PMID: 22795272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2012] [Revised: 06/04/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic modification of the pig has been hampered by inefficiency of homologous recombination and unavailability of pig embryonic stem cells. Engineered zinc finger nuclease (ZFN)-mediated genetic modification in somatic cells combined with somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology provides a new approach for targeted modification in pig genome. In this study, we used a ZFN pair to disrupt porcine α-1,3, galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene in liver-derived cells (LDC). ZFN-treated LDC were used as nuclear donors to produce fetuses and piglets via SCNT. All cloned fetuses and piglets showed biallelic knockout of GGTA1 gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS A ZFN pair was designed to target exon 8 of pig GGTA1 gene. LDC were transfected with GGTA1 ZFN plasmids. SURVEYOR assay was used to evaluate the ZFN activity in LDC. GGTA1 gene knockout cells (GTKO) were obtained by counter-selection and used as nuclear donors for SCNT. The cloned fetuses and piglets were characterized by DNA sequencing. Expression of α-Gal epitope was further examined by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. RESULTS SURVEYOR assay revealed 6.48% ZFN activity in LDC. GTKO cells were obtained by counter-selection 10 d after ZFN transfection. A total of six fetuses and 13 piglets were produced by SCNT. All fetuses and piglets had biallelic mutations in the ZFN targeted region and were negative for α-Gal epitope. CONCLUSIONS Biallelic GGTA1 gene disruption in LDC was generated efficiently by ZFN. GTKO fetuses were produced from ZFN-treated LDC by SCNT. GTKO piglets were obtained by SCNT of ZFN-treated LDC or recloning of fetal fibroblasts from GTKO fetuses. With longer lifespan and robust growth rate, LDC has the potential to endure multiple genetic modifications in vitro without going to SCNT, which could accelerate the production of genetically modified pig organs for xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Waghmare SK, Estrada J, Reyes L, Li P, Ivary B, Sidner RA, Burlak C, Tector AJ. Gene targeting and cloning in pigs using fetal liver derived cells. J Surg Res 2011; 171:e223-9. [PMID: 21962810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2011.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2011] [Revised: 07/08/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since there are no pig embryonic stem cells, pig genetic engineering is done in fetal fibroblasts that remain totipotent for only 3 to 5 wk. Nuclear donor cells that remain totipotent for longer periods of time would facilitate complicated genetic engineering in pigs. The goal of this study was to test the feasibility of using fetal liver-derived cells (FLDC) to perform gene targeting, and create a genetic knockout pig. MATERIALS AND METHODS FLDC were isolated and processed using a human liver stem cell protocol. Single copy α-1,3-galactosyl transferase knockout (GTKO) FLDCs were created using electroporation and neomycin resistant colonies were screened using PCR. Homozygous GTKO cells were created through loss of heterozygosity mutations in single GTKO FLDCs. Double GTKO FLDCs were used in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to create GTKO pigs. RESULTS FLDCs grew for more than 80 population doublings, maintaining normal karyotype. Gene targeting and loss of heterozygosity mutations produced homozygous GTKO FLDCs. FLDCs used in SCNT gave rise to homozygous GTKO pigs. CONCLUSIONS FDLCs can be used in gene targeting and SCNT to produce genetically modified pigs. The increased life span in culture compared to fetal fibroblasts may facilitate genetic engineering in the pig.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev K Waghmare
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA
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