Xenoreactive anti-Galα(1,3)Gal antibodies prevent porcine endogenous retrovirus infection of human in vivo

Abstract

The discovery of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) has raised concerns regarding the safety of pig to human xenotransplantation. In this study, we examined PERV infection of human cells in vivo. Furthermore, we examined the effect of human xenoreactive natural antibody on in vivo PERV infection. Human peripheral blood leukocyte reconstituted severe combined immunodeficiency mice were transplanted with porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC). PERV gene expression was readily detected in human leukocytes after transplantation. In contrast, human leukocytes harvested from mice treated with human serum or anti-Galα(1,3)Gal antibody prevented PERV infection in 6 of 8 mice. These results provide the first evidence that PERV can infect human cells in vivo and that natural xenoreactive antibody can prevent this infection.