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Pig to human xenotransplantation is considered to be a possible approach to alleviate the shortage of human allografts. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) is the most significant pathogen in xenotransplantation. We screened for pigs that consistently did not transmit human-tropic replication competent PERVs (HTRC PERVs), namely, non-transmitting pigs. Then, we conducted whole-genome resequencing and full-length transcriptome sequencing to further investigate the sequence characteristics of one non-transmitting pig. Using in vitro transmission assays, we found 5 (out of 105) pigs of the Chinese Wuzhishan minipig inbred line that did not transmit PERV to human cells, i.e., non-transmitting pigs. Whole-genome resequencing and full-length transcriptome sequencing of one non-transmitting pig showed that all of the pol genes were defective at both the genome and transcript levels. We speculate that the defective PERV pol genes in this pig might be attributable to the long-term inbreeding process. This discovery is promising for the development of a strain of highly homozygous and genetically stable pigs with defective PERV pol genes as a source animal species for xenotransplantation.

MHC class II atitigens DR and DQ are essential for graft rejection both in allo- and xeno-transplantation. The antigens, especially the DQA and DQB gene-coencoded DQ molecules, are also involved in transplantation tolerance induced by activation of regulatory T cells. Here we report six novel DQ alleles from three properly inbred Chinese pig strains Gz, Bm and Yn. In our study, cDNA of swine leukocyte antigen SLA-DQA and -DQB were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced for each strain. The ORF-containing SLA-DQA and -DQB genes are composed of 768 (or 765) and 786 nucleotides. encoding antigen molecules of 255 (or 254) and 261 amino acid residues, respectively. Sequences of both SLA-DQA and -DQB alleles showed disparities when compared either among the three pig strains or with available SLA data, which allows our novel alleles receiving their accession numbers AY 102473-AY 102478 from GenBank, The sequence analysis further revealed a phylogenic connection of our SLA-DQ alleles with SLA-DQc haplotype. In addition, the homologies of MHC DQ or DQ-like molecules between Chinese pigs (SLA) and human (HLA) are higher than those between pigs and mice (H-2), By co-transfection of Bm pig DQA and DQB genes into L929 cells, the Bm-DQ heterodimer-expressed cells could effectively stimulate the human lymphoproliferation in presence of human APCs with a mean stimulation index (SI) 9.9 ± 1.4. This functional assay indicated that our recombinant DQ antigens are capable of initiating human lymphoproliferation in a xeno-MLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Stem cell-based therapy to treat liver diseases is a focus of current research worldwide. So far, most such studies depend on rodent hepatic failure models. The purpose of this study was to isolate mesenchymal stem cells from human placenta (hPMSCs) and determine their therapeutic potential for treating Chinese experimental miniature pigs with acute liver failure (ALF). Methods hPMSCs were isolated and analyzed for their purity and differentiation potential before being employed as the donor cells for transplantation. ALF models of Chinese experimental miniature pigs were established and divided into four groups: no cell transplantation; hPMSCs transplantation via the jugular vein; X-ray-treated hPMSCs transplantation via the portal vein; and hPMSCs transplantation via the portal vein. The restoration of biological functions of the livers receiving transplantation was assessed via a variety of approaches such as mortality rate determination, serum biochemical analysis, and histological, immunohistochemical, and genetic analysis. Results hPMSCs expressed high levels of CD29, CD73, CD13, and CD90, had adipogenic, osteogenic, and hepatic differentiation potential. They improved liver functions in vivo after transplantation into the D-galactosamine-injured pig livers as evidenced by the fact that ALT, AST, ALP, CHE, TBIL, and TBA concentrations returned to normal levels in recipient ALF pigs. Meanwhile, histological data revealed that transplantation of hPMSCs via the portal vein reduced liver inflammation, decreased hepatic denaturation and necrosis, and promoted liver regeneration. These ameliorations were not found in the other three groups. The result of 7-day survival rates suggested that hPMSCs transplantation via the portal vein was able to significantly prolong the survival of ALF pigs compared with the other three groups. Histochemistry and RT-PCR results confirmed the presence of transplanted human cells in recipient pig livers (Groups III, IV). Conclusions Our data revealed that hPMSCs could not only differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and in vivo, but could also prolong the survival time of ALF pigs. Regarding the transplantation pathways, the left branch of the portal vein inside the liver was superior to the jugular vein pathway. Thus, hPMSCs transplantation through the portal vein by B-ultrasonography may represent a superior approach for treating liver diseases.