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Xu K, Yu H, Chen S, Zhang Y, Guo J, Yang C, Jiao D, Nguyen TD, Zhao H, Wang J, Wei T, Li H, Jia B, Jamal MA, Zhao HY, Huang X, Wei HJ. Production of Triple-Gene (GGTA1, B2M and CIITA)-Modified Donor Pigs for Xenotransplantation. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:848833. [PMID: 35573408 PMCID: PMC9097228 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.848833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of human immune T-cells by swine leukocyte antigens class I (SLA-I) and class II (SLA-II) leads to xenograft destruction. Here, we generated the GGTA1, B2M, and CIITA (GBC) triple-gene-modified Diannan miniature pigs, analyzed the transcriptome of GBC-modified peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the pig's spleen, and investigated their effectiveness in anti-immunological rejection. A total of six cloned piglets were successfully generated using somatic cell nuclear transfer, one of them carrying the heterozygous mutations in triple genes and the other five piglets carrying the homozygous mutations in GGTA1 and CIITA genes, but have the heterozygous mutation in the B2M gene. The autopsy of GBC-modified pigs revealed that a lot of spot bleeding in the kidney, severe suppuration and necrosis in the lungs, enlarged peripulmonary lymph nodes, and adhesion between the lungs and chest wall were found. Phenotyping data showed that the mRNA expressions of triple genes and protein expressions of B2M and CIITA genes were still detectable and comparable with wild-type (WT) pigs in multiple tissues, but α1,3-galactosyltransferase was eliminated, SLA-I was significantly decreased, and four subtypes of SLA-II were absent in GBC-modified pigs. In addition, even in swine umbilical vein endothelial cells (SUVEC) induced by recombinant porcine interferon gamma (IFN-γ), the expression of SLA-I in GBC-modified pig was lower than that in WT pigs. Similarly, the expression of SLA-II DR and DQ also cannot be induced by recombinant porcine IFN-γ. Through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), 150 differentially expressed genes were identified in the PBMCs of the pig's spleen, and most of them were involved in immune- and infection-relevant pathways that include antigen processing and presentation and viral myocarditis, resulting in the pigs with GBC modification being susceptible to pathogenic microorganism. Furthermore, the numbers of human IgM binding to the fibroblast cells of GBC-modified pigs were obviously reduced. The GBC-modified porcine PBMCs triggered the weaker proliferation of human PBMCs than WT PBMCs. These findings indicated that the absence of the expression of α1,3-galactosyltransferase and SLA-II and the downregulation of SLA-I enhanced the ability of immunological tolerance in pig-to-human xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixiang Xu
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Honghao Yu
- College of Biotechnology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Shuhan Chen
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yaxuan Zhang
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jianxiong Guo
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Chang Yang
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Deling Jiao
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Tien Dat Nguyen
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Heng Zhao
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jiaoxiang Wang
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Taiyun Wei
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Honghui Li
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Baoyu Jia
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Muhammad Ameen Jamal
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Hong-Ye Zhao
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Jiang Wei
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Porcine Gene Editing and Xenotransplantation, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Province Xenotransplantation Research Engineering Center, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Fischer
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Angelika Schnieke
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
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3
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Liu F, Liu J, Yuan Z, Qing Y, Li H, Xu K, Zhu W, Zhao H, Jia B, Pan W, Guo J, Zhang X, Cheng W, Wang W, Zhao HY, Wei HJ. Generation of GTKO Diannan Miniature Pig Expressing Human Complementary Regulator Proteins hCD55 and hCD59 via T2A Peptide-Based Bicistronic Vectors and SCNT. Mol Biotechnol 2019; 60:550-562. [PMID: 29916131 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-018-0091-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Pig-to-human organ transplantation has drawn attention in recent years due to the potential use of pigs as an alternative source of human donor organs. While GGTA1 knockout (GTKO) can protect xenografts from hyperacute rejection, complement-dependent cytotoxicity might still contribute to this type of rejection. To prolong the xenograft survival, we utilized a T2A-mediated pCMV-hCD55-T2A-hCD59-Neo vector and transfected the plasmid into GTKO Diannan miniature pig fetal fibroblasts. After G418 selection combined with single-cell cloning culture, four colonies were obtained, and three of these were successfully transfected with the hCD55 and hCD59. One of the three colonies was selected as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Then, the reconstructed embryos were transferred into eight recipient gilts, resulting in four pregnancies. Three of the pregnant gilts delivered, yielding six piglets. Only one piglet carried hCD55 and hCD59 genetic modification. The expression levels of the GGTA1, hCD55, and hCD59 in the tissues and fibroblasts of the piglet were determined by q-PCR, fluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting analyses. The results showed the absence of GGTA1 and the coexpression of the hCD55 and hCD59. However, the mRNA expression levels of hCD55 and hCD59 in the GTKO/hCD55/hCD59 pig fibroblasts were lower than that in human 293T cells, which may be caused by low copy number and/or CMV promoter methylation. Furthermore, we performed human complement-mediated cytolysis assays using human serum solutions from 0 to 60%. The result showed that the fibroblasts of this triple-gene modified piglet had greater survival rates than that of wild-type and GTKO controls. Taken together, these results indicate that T2A-mediated polycistronic vector system combined with SCNT can effectively generate multiplex genetically modified pigs, additional hCD55 and hCD59 expression on top of a GTKO genetic background markedly enhance the protective effect towards human serum-mediated cytolysis than those of GTKO alone. Thus, we suggest that GTKO/hCD55/hCD59 triple-gene-modified Diannan miniature pig will be a more eligible donor for xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Jinji Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Zaimei Yuan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yubo Qing
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Honghui Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Kaixiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Wanyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Heng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Baoyu Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Weirong Pan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Jianxiong Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Xuezeng Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Wenmin Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Hunan Xeno Life Science Co., Ltd, Changsha, 410600, China.
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, The Third Xiangya Hospital Central-South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
| | - Hong-Ye Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.
| | - Hong-Jiang Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.
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Abstract
The growing shortage of available organs is a major problem in transplantology. Thus, new and alternative sources of organs need to be found. One promising solution could be xenotransplantation, i.e., the use of animal cells, tissues and organs. The domestic pig is the optimum donor for such transplants. However, xenogeneic transplantation from pigs to humans involves high immune incompatibility and a complex rejection process. The rapid development of genetic engineering techniques enables genome modifications in pigs that reduce the cross-species immune barrier.
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Du J, Chen H, Qing L, Yang X, Jia X. Biomimetic neural scaffolds: a crucial step towards optimal peripheral nerve regeneration. Biomater Sci 2018; 6:1299-1311. [PMID: 29725688 PMCID: PMC5978680 DOI: 10.1039/c8bm00260f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury is a common disease that affects more than 20 million people in the United States alone and remains a major burden to society. The current gold standard treatment for critical-sized nerve defects is autologous nerve graft transplantation; however, this method is limited in many ways and does not always lead to satisfactory outcomes. The limitations of autografts have prompted investigations into artificial neural scaffolds as replacements, and some neural scaffold devices have progressed to widespread clinical use; scaffold technology overall has yet to be shown to be consistently on a par with or superior to autografts. Recent advances in biomimetic scaffold technologies have opened up many new and exciting opportunities, and novel improvements in material, fabrication technique, scaffold architecture, and lumen surface modifications that better reflect biological anatomy and physiology have independently been shown to benefit overall nerve regeneration. Furthermore, biomimetic features of neural scaffolds have also been shown to work synergistically with other nerve regeneration therapy strategies such as growth factor supplementation, stem cell transplantation, and cell surface glycoengineering. This review summarizes the current state of neural scaffolds, highlights major advances in biomimetic technologies, and discusses future opportunities in the field of peripheral nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. ; Tel: +1 410-706-5025
| | - Huanwen Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. ; Tel: +1 410-706-5025
| | - Liming Qing
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. ; Tel: +1 410-706-5025
| | - Xiuli Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. ; Tel: +1 410-706-5025
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. ; Tel: +1 410-706-5025
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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6
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Meier RPH, Muller YD, Balaphas A, Morel P, Pascual M, Seebach JD, Buhler LH. Xenotransplantation: back to the future? Transpl Int 2018; 31:465-477. [PMID: 29210109 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The field of xenotransplantation has fluctuated between great optimism and doubts over the last 50 years. The initial clinical attempts were extremely ambitious but faced technical and ethical issues that prompted the research community to go back to preclinical studies. Important players left the field due to perceived xenozoonotic risks and the lack of progress in pig-to-nonhuman-primate transplant models. Initial apparently unsurmountable issues appear now to be possible to overcome due to progress of genetic engineering, allowing the generation of multiple-xenoantigen knockout pigs that express human transgenes and the genomewide inactivation of porcine endogenous retroviruses. These important steps forward were made possible by new genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, allowing researchers to precisely remove or insert genes anywhere in the genome. An additional emerging perspective is the possibility of growing humanized organs in pigs using blastocyst complementation. This article summarizes the current advances in xenotransplantation research in nonhuman primates, and it describes the newly developed genome editing technology tools and interspecific organ generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael P H Meier
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yannick D Muller
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medical Specialties, University Hospitals and Medical Faculty, Geneva, Switzerland.,Transplantation Center, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Balaphas
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Morel
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Pascual
- Transplantation Center, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jörg D Seebach
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medical Specialties, University Hospitals and Medical Faculty, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Leo H Buhler
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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7
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Reichart B, Guethoff S, Mayr T, Buchholz S, Abicht JM, Kind AJ, Brenner P. Discordant Cellular and Organ Xenotransplantation—From Bench to Bedside. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-16441-0_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
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8
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Boksa M, Zeyland J, Słomski R, Lipiński D. Immune modulation in xenotransplantation. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2014; 63:181-92. [PMID: 25354539 PMCID: PMC4429136 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-014-0317-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The use of animals as donors of tissues and organs for xenotransplantations may help in meeting the increasing demand for organs for human transplantations. Clinical studies indicate that the domestic pig best satisfies the criteria of organ suitability for xenotransplantation. However, the considerable phylogenetic distance between humans and the pig causes tremendous immunological problems after transplantation, thus genetic modifications need to be introduced to the porcine genome, with the aim of reducing xenotransplant immunogenicity. Advances in genetic engineering have facilitated the incorporation of human genes regulating the complement into the porcine genome, knockout of the gene encoding the formation of the Gal antigen (α1,3-galactosyltransferase) or modification of surface proteins in donor cells. The next step is two-fold. Firstly, to inhibit processes of cell-mediated xenograft rejection, involving natural killer cells and macrophages. Secondly, to inhibit rejection caused by the incompatibility of proteins participating in the regulation of the coagulation system, which leads to a disruption of the equilibrium in pro- and anti-coagulant activity. Only a simultaneous incorporation of several gene constructs will make it possible to produce multitransgenic animals whose organs, when transplanted to human recipients, would be resistant to hyperacute and delayed xenograft rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Boksa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632, Poznań, Poland,
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Mohiuddin MM, Singh AK, Corcoran PC, Hoyt RF, Thomas ML, Ayares D, Horvath KA. Genetically engineered pigs and target-specific immunomodulation provide significant graft survival and hope for clinical cardiac xenotransplantation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2014; 148:1106-13; discussion 1113-4. [PMID: 24998698 PMCID: PMC4135017 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cardiac transplantation and available mechanical alternatives are the only possible solutions for end-stage cardiac disease. Unfortunately, because of the limited supply of human organs, xenotransplantation may be the ideal method to overcome this shortage. We have recently seen significant prolongation of heterotopic cardiac xenograft survival from 3 to 12 months and beyond. METHODS Hearts from genetically engineered piglets that were alpha 1-3 galactosidase transferase knockout and expressed the human complement regulatory gene, CD46 (groups A-C), and the human thrombomodulin gene (group D) were heterotropically transplanted in baboons treated with antithymocyte globulin, cobra venom factor, anti-CD20 antibody, and costimulation blockade (anti-CD154 antibody [clone 5C8]) in group A, anti-CD40 antibody (clone 3A8; 20 mg/kg) in group B, clone 2C10R4 (25 mg/kg) in group C, or clone 2C10R4 (50 mg/kg) in group D, along with conventional nonspecific immunosuppressive agents. RESULTS Group A grafts (n = 8) survived for an average of 70 days, with the longest survival of 236 days. Some animals in this group (n = 3) developed microvascular thrombosis due to platelet activation and consumption, which resulted in spontaneous hemorrhage. The median survival time was 21 days in group B (n = 3), 80 days in group C (n = 6), and more than 200 days in group D (n = 5). Three grafts in group D are still contracting well, with the longest ongoing graft survival surpassing the 1-year mark. CONCLUSIONS Genetically engineered pig hearts (GTKOhTg.hCD46.hTBM) with modified targeted immunosuppression (anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody) achieved long-term cardiac xenograft survival. This potentially paves the way for clinical xenotransplantation if similar survival can be reproduced in an orthotopic transplantation model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad M Mohiuddin
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
| | - Avneesh K Singh
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Philip C Corcoran
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Robert F Hoyt
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory, Frederick, Md
| | - Marvin L Thomas
- Division of Veterinary Resources, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | | | - Keith A Horvath
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
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10
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Abstract
The shortage of human organs for transplantation has focused research on the possibility of transplanting pig organs into humans. Many factors contribute to the failure of a pig organ graft in a primate. A rapid innate immune response (natural anti-pig antibody, complement activation, and an innate cellular response; e.g., neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells) is followed by an adaptive immune response, although T-cell infiltration of the graft has rarely been reported. Other factors (e.g., coagulation dysregulation and inflammation) appear to play a significantly greater role than in allotransplantation. The immune responses to a pig xenograft cannot therefore be controlled simply by suppression of T-cell activity. Before xenotransplantation can be introduced successfully into the clinic, the problems of the innate, coagulopathic, and inflammatory responses will have to be overcome, most likely by the transplantation of organs from genetically engineered pigs. Many of the genetic manipulations aimed at protecting against these responses also reduce the adaptive response. The T-cell and elicited antibody responses can be prevented by the biological and/or pharmacologic agents currently available, in particular, by costimulation blockade-based regimens. The exogenous immunosuppressive regimen may be significantly reduced by the presence of a graft from a pig transgenic for a mutant (human) class II transactivator gene, resulting in down-regulation of swine leukocyte antigen class II expression, or from a pig with "local" vascular endothelial cell expression of an immunosuppressive gene (e.g., CTLA4-Ig). The immunomodulatory efficacy of regulatory T cells or mesenchymal stromal cells has been demonstrated in vitro but not yet in vivo.
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11
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Hara H, Witt W, Crossley T, Long C, Isse K, Fan L, Phelps CJ, Ayares D, Cooper DKC, Dai Y, Starzl TE. Human dominant-negative class II transactivator transgenic pigs - effect on the human anti-pig T-cell immune response and immune status. Immunology 2013; 140:39-46. [PMID: 23566228 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Revised: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Swine leucocyte antigen (SLA) class II molecules on porcine (p) cells play a crucial role in xenotransplantation as activators of recipient human CD4(+) T cells. A human dominant-negative mutant class II transactivator (CIITA-DN) transgene under a CAG promoter with an endothelium-specific Tie2 enhancer was constructed. CIITA-DN transgenic pigs were produced by nuclear transfer/embryo transfer. CIITA-DN pig cells were evaluated for expression of SLA class II with/without activation, and the human CD4(+) T-cell response to cells from CIITA-DN and wild-type (WT) pigs was compared. Lymphocyte subset numbers and T-cell function in CIITA-DN pigs were compared with those in WT pigs. The expression of SLA class II on antigen-presenting cells from CIITA-DN pigs was significantly reduced (40-50% reduction compared with WT; P < 0·01), and was completely suppressed on aortic endothelial cells (AECs) even after activation (100% suppression; P < 0·01). The human CD4(+) T-cell response to CIITA-DN pAECs was significantly weaker than to WT pAECs (60-80% suppression; P < 0·01). Although there was a significantly lower frequency of CD4(+) cells in the PBMCs from CIITA-DN (20%) than from WT (30%) pigs (P < 0·01), T-cell proliferation was similar, suggesting no significant immunological compromise. Organs and cells from CIITA-DN pigs should be partially protected from the human cellular immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetaka Hara
- Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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12
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Kim H, Chee H, Yang J, Hwang S, Han K, Kang J, Park J, Kim J, Lee S, Ock S, Park M, Park K, Byeongchun L, Cho K, Noh J, Park W, Yun I, Ahn C. Outcomes of Alpha 1,3-GT-knockout Porcine Heart Transplants Into a Preclinical Nonhuman Primate Model. Transplant Proc 2013; 45:3085-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2013.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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Cooper DKC, Hara H, Ezzelarab M, Bottino R, Trucco M, Phelps C, Ayares D, Dai Y. The potential of genetically-engineered pigs in providing an alternative source of organs and cells for transplantation. J Biomed Res 2013; 27:249-53. [PMID: 23885264 PMCID: PMC3721033 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.27.20130063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a critical shortage of organs, cells, and corneas from deceased human donors worldwide. There are also shortages of human blood for transfusion. A potential solution to all of these problems is the transplantation of organs, cells, and corneas from a readily available animal species, such as the pig, and the transfusion of red blood cells from pigs into humans. However, to achieve these ends, major immunologic and other barriers have to be overcome. Considerable progress has been made in this respect by the genetic modification of pigs to protect their tissues from the primate immune response and to correct several molecular incompatibilities that exist between pig and primate. These have included knockout of genes responsible for the expression of major antigenic targets for primate natural anti-pig antibodies, insertion of human complement- and coagulation-regulatory transgenes, and knockdown of swine leukocyte antigens that stimulate the primate's adaptive immune response. As a result of these manipulations, the administration of novel immunosuppressive agents, and other innovations, pig hearts have now functioned in baboons for 6-8 months, pig islets have maintained normoglycemia in diabetic monkeys for > 1 year, and pig corneas have maintained transparency for several months. Clinical trials of pig islet transplantation are already in progress. Future developments will involve further genetic manipulations of the organ-source pig, with most of the genes that are likely to be beneficial already identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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Black SM, Benson BA, Idossa D, Vercellotti GM, Dalmasso AP. Protection of porcine endothelial cells against apoptosis with interleukin-4. Xenotransplantation 2012; 18:343-54. [PMID: 22168141 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2011.00678.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apoptosis is crucial for tissue development and homeostasis, and insufficient apoptosis is pivotal in cancer pathogenesis. Apoptosis may also be important in tissue injury and in this case, it is of interest to induce protection against apoptosis. In organ transplantation, apoptosis has been implicated in acute vascular rejection (AVR); in xenotransplantation, the inducers of apoptosis of relevance in AVR, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), also cause endothelial cell (EC) activation. We have previously shown that interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 induced protection in porcine ECs against activation and apoptosis triggered by TNF-α. Now we define signaling processes activated by IL-4 in porcine ECs and mechanisms required for IL-4-induced protection against apoptosis. METHODS Porcine aortic ECs were used as primary cultures or as virus-induced immortalized cells derived from galactosyl transferase-deficient (Gal(-/-) ) or wild-type pigs. ECs were stimulated with porcine IL-4, either extrinsically or transduced with recombinant adenovirus (adeno) IL-4, and analyzed using immunoblotting. Apoptosis was induced with TNF-α plus cycloheximide and assessed using neutral red uptake or flow cytometry. The role of various signaling proteins in IL-4-induced protection was established using pharmacologic inhibitors and siRNA downregulation of protein expression. RESULTS IL-4 induced similar degrees of phosphorylation of STAT6 in all 3 types of ECs, and STAT6 was phosphorylated through Jak3. IL-4 induced phosphorylation of Bad through Jak3. Stimulation of ECs with IL-4 caused protection of ECs against apoptosis with an absolute requirement of Jak3/STAT6 activation and major participation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. IL-4 caused no increase in EC levels of protective proteins hemoxygenase-1, inhibitor of apoptosis protein, heat shock protein 70, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL. ECs transduced with adenoIL-4 exhibited strong and durable protection from apoptosis. Gal(-/-) ECs were as susceptible to induction of protection with IL-4 as wild-type ECs. CONCLUSIONS IL-4 induces activation of Jak3/STAT6 and phosphorylation of Bad in porcine ECs, ultimately resulting in effective protection of the ECs from apoptosis. Delineation of downstream signals activated by IL-4 that are required for induction of protection suggests possible sites of intervention to design effective therapeutic agents. This is of interest because substances such as IL-4 have pleiotropic effects and cannot be used directly due to potential deleterious effects. Inducing resistance to apoptosis in porcine vascular endothelium may be important to facilitate xenograft survival and accommodation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester M Black
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Mohiuddin MM, Corcoran PC, Singh AK, Azimzadeh A, Hoyt RF, Thomas ML, Eckhaus MA, Seavey C, Ayares D, Pierson RN, Horvath KA. B-cell depletion extends the survival of GTKO.hCD46Tg pig heart xenografts in baboons for up to 8 months. Am J Transplant 2012; 12:763-71. [PMID: 22070772 PMCID: PMC4182960 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03846.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Xenotransplantation of genetically modified pig organs offers great potential to address the shortage of human organs for allotransplantation. Rejection in Gal knockout (GTKO) pigs due to elicited non-Gal antibody response required further genetic modifications of donor pigs and better control of the B-cell response to xenoantigens. We report significant prolongation of heterotopic alpha Galactosyl transferase "knock-out" and human CD46 transgenic (GTKO.hCD46Tg) pig cardiac xenografts survival in specific pathogen free baboons. Peritransplant B-cell depletion using 4 weekly doses of anti-CD20 antibody in the context of an established ATG, anti-CD154 and MMF-based immunosuppressive regimen prolonged GTKO.hCD46Tg graft survival for up to 236 days (n = 9, median survival 71 days and mean survival 94 days). B-cell depletion persisted for over 2 months, and elicited anti-non-Gal antibody production remained suppressed for the duration of graft follow-up. This result identifies a critical role for B cells in the mechanisms of elicited anti-non-Gal antibody and delayed xenograft rejection. Model-related morbidity due to variety of causes was seen in these experiments, suggesting that further therapeutic interventions, including candidate genetic modifications of donor pigs, may be necessary to reduce late morbidity in this model to a clinically manageable level.
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Affiliation(s)
- MM Mohiuddin
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - PC Corcoran
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - AK Singh
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - A Azimzadeh
- University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - RF Hoyt
- LAMS, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | | | | | - C Seavey
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - RN Pierson
- University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - KA Horvath
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD
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Schneider MKJ, Seebach JD. Xenotransplantation literature update, March-April 2011. Xenotransplantation 2011; 18:209-13. [PMID: 21696450 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2011.00638.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mårten K J Schneider
- Laboratory of Vascular Immunology, Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Ekser B, Gridelli B, Veroux M, Cooper DK. Clinical pig liver xenotransplantation: how far do we have to go? Xenotransplantation 2011; 18:158-67. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2011.00642.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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