Abstract
Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of all pigs, and some of them are able to infect human cells. Therefore, PERVs pose a risk for xenotransplantation, the transplantation of pig cells, tissues, or organ to humans in order to alleviate the shortage of human donor organs. Up to 2021, a huge body of knowledge about PERVs has been accumulated regarding their biology, including replication, recombination, origin, host range, and immunosuppressive properties. Until now, no PERV transmission has been observed in clinical trials transplanting pig islet cells into diabetic humans, in preclinical trials transplanting pig cells and organs into nonhuman primates with remarkable long survival times of the transplant, and in infection experiments with several animal species. Nevertheless, in order to prevent virus transmission to the recipient, numerous strategies have been developed, including selection of PERV-C-free animals, RNA interference, antiviral drugs, vaccination, and genome editing. Furthermore, at present there are no more experimental approaches to evaluate the full risk until we move to the clinic.
Highlights
Endogenous Retroviruses and Xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues, and organs is under development in order to alleviate the shortage of human donor organs
Bacteria, fungi, and protozoa can be eliminated by selection, vaccination, antiviral drugs, early weaning, colostrum deprivation, and embryo transfer, that is not possible for the porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs), because they are integrated in the genome of the pigs
Several comprehensive reviews of xenotransplantation and Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) have been published in the last years [3,4,5,6,7], and the aim of this review is to give an overview of the topic for those who have never heard about xenotransplantation and PERVs, indicating
Summary
Endogenous Retroviruses and Xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues, and organs is under development in order to alleviate the shortage of human donor organs. Xenotransplantation must overcome three hurdles on its way into the clinic: rejection, especially hyperacute rejection (HAR); physiological incompatibility; and the risk of transmission of zoonotic pig microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi, and protozoa can be eliminated by selection, vaccination, antiviral drugs, early weaning, colostrum deprivation, and embryo transfer, that is not possible for the porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs), because they are integrated in the genome of the pigs. Several comprehensive reviews of xenotransplantation and PERVs have been published in the last years [3,4,5,6,7], and the aim of this review is to give an overview of the topic for those who have never heard about xenotransplantation and PERVs, indicating. The original publications and mainly previous reviews, as well as to give a detailed update on the data accumulated since the last reviews
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