OBJECTIVE The major obstacle in pig to human transplantation is acute and hyperacute rejection (HAR) triggered mainly by alpha-galactosyl residues(alpha-Gal) in donor. Since the inbred-line Banna pig(IBNP) and Wuzhishan pig (IWZSP) are highly inbred and may be the potential donor for xenotransplantation, it is important to investigate the reaction between human serum and inbred-line pig tissues as well as the distribution of alpha-Gal in these tissues. METHODS Samples from heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, pancreas, small intestine, thymus, skin, lymph node and blood vessels at all levels were collected from four 8 to 11-month-old male IBNPs and one IWZSP. Affinity-immunohistochemistry assays were conducted following routine procedures on paraffin sections with normal human sera of blood type A, B, O, AB and BSI-B4(alpha-Gal specific binding lectin) as the primary antibodies or affinity reagents. Sections digested by alpha-galactosidase were also examined as control. RESULTS Parallel results were obtained from these pig tissues stained against human sera and BSI-B4. There was no significant difference both in the antigens recognized by sera of different blood types or BSI-B4 and in the distribution of alpha-Gal. The best alpha-Gal positive staining was appeared in vascular endothelial cells at all levels and partial parenchyma cells. However, tissues of cartilage, peripheral nerve and muscle were negative. After digested by alpha-Galactosidase, all samples were negative against BSI-B4 and human sera except few positions that showed different staining. CONCLUSION The distribution of target antigen is similar in various tissues of the two kinds of pigs. Though alpha-Gal is the major xenoantigen in IBNP and IWZSP, there may be some unknown antigens related to pig to human transplantation. Possibly the level and distribution of antigen expression in pig tissues are not the first affair to be considered, and these pigs should be genetically modified in order to eliminate rejection in pig to human xenotransplantation.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the heart anatomic and histological structure of the Banna mini-pig inbred-lined and to provide the morphological data for heart xenotransplantation and breeding transgens pig. METHODS: Ten Banna mini-pigs (12-18 months old) were affused and fixed by common coratid artery. The heart were observed and measured by gross anatomy and histology. RESULTS: There were many similarities between the Banna pig heart and the human heart in anatomy and histology. However, the following differences were observed in the Banna pig heart: 1. Azygos vein directly drew into right atrium cordis. 2. The intercalated disk of cardiac muscle was less than that of human. 3. The Purkinje’s fibre was bigger than that of human. CONCLUSION: On the morphology and histology, the structure of Banna pig heart is similar to the heart of human being. It is possible that Banna minipig heart becomes organ donors for xenotransplantation.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of xenotransplantation of microencapsulated rabbit parathyroid tissue in different sites in rats for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. MethodsThe parathyroid glands from Wistar rats were removed to make them aparathyroid. Ultimately, sixteen rats were included because their serum calcium values were continuously below 1.6 mmol/L. We also encapsulated the cultured rabbit parathyroid tissue with alginateBaCl2 microcapsule. According to the transplantation sites, rats were randomly divided into two groups: renal adipose microcapsule group and peritoneal microcapsule group, eight in each group. Encapsulated rabbit parathyroid tissues were then transplanted accordingly to different microcapsule groups. The calcium serum contents were examined on 5，15，25，35，45，55 and 65 d respectively after transplantation and the grafts were observed through electron microscope on the 65 d in particular. ResultsThe calcium contents after transplantation in renal adipose microcapsule group restored to normal and the observation outcomes of grafts showed that they survived well. The calcium contents of posttransplantation in peritoneal group also restored to normal with an exception that it dropped to a level lower than 1.6 mmol/L on the 65 d. Electron microscope also showed that there were necrotic tissues in the center and only a few cells survived on the edge of the grafts. Within peritoneal microcapsule group, the values were significantly lower than others taken at different phases. ConclusionMicroencapsulated rabbit parathyroid tissue that was xenotransplanted into rats can survive and function without administration of immunodepressant. There are significant differences of calcium contents at varying phases between two transplantation sites, which demonstrate that renal adipose may be an optimal site for microcapsule xenotransplantation.
The worldwide shortage in the supply of donor organs and tissues is becoming more pronounced. Xenotransplantation may probably give the hope to overcome the problem ultimately. However, it gives rise to a number of social and ethical issues, among them, the pig appears to be a likely source for human transplantation because it entails least social and ethical issues than no-human primates or other animals and the pig is similar to human in many aspects. The ethical and economic aspects must also be taken into consideration. Patient and his family’s privacy may be stripped because the patient has received a new or unusual treatment. Xenograftings will squint towards a kind of commodities which are different from human graftings and it is a challenge to human transplantation. Xenotransplantation brings a risk of creating new human disease and pandemic, so, it is necessary to formulate a policy and provide input to draft guidelines on the regulation of xenotransplantation.
Objective To review the current condition, test method and progress of the animal model of xeno graft versus host disease(xeno GVHD). Methods The literature review and comprehensive analysis methods were used in this article. Results Implanted immunologic cells, the recepient had the chance of showing host versus graft reaction, GVHD or microchimerism. Now, xeno GVHD could be induced in vivo at small and large animals, it also could be supervised through many ways. Conclusion Chimeric cell is very important to xeno-GVHD animal model. With this model, we can really mimic the immunologic change in vivo after xenotransplantation.
Objective To improve the Heron’s technique for heterotopic cardiac transplantation in rats by cuff vessel anastomosis in some aspectsand successfully establish the simplified model of cervical cardiac xenotransplantation from guinea pigs donor to SD rats recipients. Methods The donors were 64 male guinea pigs, whose weight ranged from 250 to 350 g； the recipients were 64 male SD rats, whose weight ranged from 300 to 350 g.The guinea pigs donor’s ascending aorta and pulmonary artery were anastomosed to SD rats recipient’s right common carotid artery and external jugular vein respectively with a self-made “sleeve” anastomosis. The modified cuff technique of heterotopic grafting is described in detail. Results 64 consecutive successful transplantations have been performed by single surgeon were done with negligible operative risk. No anastomosis leakage nor vessel obstruction. The total time of surgical procedure were 45 to 60 minutes. The new technique allowed vascular anastomoses to be completed in 2 to 5 minutes. The total cold ischemia time for donor heart was 14 minutes in average. Conclusion This modified Heron’s technique was a simple, economical, practicable,reliable and high reproducible model can be operated by surgeons with minimal training in microvascular surgery, and be applied to various transplantation immunological studies.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the general situation of the native pig breeds and the relative present study conditions for better development of xenotransplantation in China. METHODS By comparing the profits between the pigs and the non-human primates as the potential donors for xenotransplantation and emphasizing the source of the pigs as the organ donors from the transplantation studies, we analyzed the possible values of the native pig breeds as the donors. RESULTS As one of the richest resources in the world, the species variation and relative genetic stability of Chinese native pig breeds could be the very valuable resources for xenotransplantation study and utilization. As a reverse, the xenotransplantation could provide opportunity for more economically and environmentally utilization of the pigs besides as the meat supply. CONCLUSION As a very valuable and potential resource of organ donor, the native pig breeds of China might be noticed by the xenotransplantation colleagues in the world. It is necessary, to keep the balance among the risk vs. benefit and the protection vs. utilization of this valuable resource.
Insufficient supply of organ for allotransplantation made the study on finding new organ resources from animal progress. Pig is regarded as one of the optimal donor animals for human. The major obstacle in this field is hyperacute reaction (HAR), which is triggered after the xenogenic natural antibodies preexisting in recipient blood combine to the antigens on the surface of the endothelium and activate the complement system. alpha-Galactose residues (alpha-Gal) on the endothelial cell have been identified as the major xenoantigens. NJZ Pig has been closely breed since 1938, whose family history is clear. Tissue samples from heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung, small intestine, skin, spleen, thymus and lymph node were obtained and embedded in paraffin. The sections were performed the immunohistochemical staining with the sera from health volunteers (including all the blood types) as the primary antibodies as well as the biotin labeled bandeirae simplicifolia I isolectin B4 (BS I-B4), which has specific affinity to alpha-galactose. All the staining sections were compared with the tissues digested with alpha-galactosidase. There was no difference between the antigens recognized by sera of different blood types. alpha-Gal was still the major xenoantigen on the endothelial cells. There might exist non-alpha-Gal antigens on the distal convoluted tubules and collecting tubules of the kidney. There was no alpha-Gal distributing on the secreting part of pancreas, either the islet cells or the matrix cells, but surely on pancreatic duct and vessels. All the antigenity was destroyed after the enzyme digestion except that the small intestine gland still positive with the BS I-B4. alpha-Gal is the major xenogenic antigen in NJZ Pigs. There exist some unknown antigens on the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney. The blood type of recipient is not the first affair to be considered in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. The specificity of BS I-B4 for the alpha-galactose needs more detail research.
OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis, mechanism, manifestation and diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) are reviewed in this article. METHODS The relevant articles in recent public magazines were reviewed and summarized. RESULTS It was indicated that GVHD occurred in the conditioned recipients in animal experiments and clinical transplantations. Humoral and cellular factors were involved in GVHD, which could be diagnosed and classified according to their characteristics. CONCLUSION As a kind of interactions between the host and donor, GVHD are severely harmful to the host. It may also occur in xenotransplantation, where GVHD can be utilized in the studies on transplant immunology, oncology etc. Xenogeneic GVHD is receiving more and more attentions.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the kidney anatomic structure of banna minipig inbred-lines, and to provide data for kidney xenotransplantation. METHODS: The fresh and infused kidneys of banna minipig (including the vessel and the ureter) were checked by anatomic microscope and vernier caliper in original location and away body. The tissue structure was observed by HE stain. RESULTS: The structure of kidney of banna minipig inbred-lines (including the vessel and the ureter) are similar to that of human being. The fascia propria of kidney is divided into three layers including capsula fibrosa, capsula adipose and fascia renalis. The thickness of cortex renalis is (20.0 +/- 2.4) mm. The average diameter of renal artery is 5.1 mm and is similar to that of human being. All the kidneys of banna minipig inbred-lines have a single branch renal artery. The diameters of left and right ureters are 5.1 mm and 4.7 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The kidney of banna minipig inbred-lines is an ideal replacement of human kidney for xenotransplantation.