Zhou Huidong, Iwase Hayato, Wolf Roman F, Ekser Burcin, Ezzelarab Mohamed, Hara Hidetaka, White Gary, Cooper David K C
Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Kidney Transplantation, Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Xenotransplantation. 2014 May-Jun;21(3):287-90. doi: 10.1111/xen.12088. Epub 2014 Feb 18.
Baboons have natural antibodies against pig antigens. We have investigated whether there are differences in anti-non-Gal pig antibody levels between baboons maintained under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions and those housed under conventional conditions (non-SPF) that might be associated with improved outcome after pig-to-baboon organ transplantation. Baboons (n = 40) were housed indoors (SPF n = 8) or in indoor/outdoor pens (non-SPF n = 32) in colonies of similar size and structure. Non-SPF colonies harbor a number of pathogens common to non-human primate species, whereas many of these pathogens have been eliminated from the SPF colony. Complete blood cell counts (CBC), blood chemistry, and anti-non-Gal IgM and IgG levels were monitored. There were no significant differences in CBC or blood chemistry between SPF and non-SPF baboons. Anti-non-Gal IgM levels were significantly lower in the SPF baboons than in the non-SPF baboons (MFI 7.1 vs. 8.8, P < 0.05). One SPF and two non-SPF baboons had an MFI >20; if these three baboons are omitted, the mean MFIs were 4.8 (SPF) vs. 7.5 (non-SPF) (P < 0.05). Anti-non-Gal IgG was minimal in both groups (MFI 1.0 vs. 1.0). As their levels of anti-non-Gal IgM are lower, baboons maintained under SPF conditions may be beneficial for xenotransplantation studies as the initial binding of anti-pig IgM to an α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout pig organ may be less, thus resulting in less complement and/or endothelial cell activation. However, even under identical SPF conditions, an occasional baboon will express a high level of anti-non-Gal IgM, the reason for which remains uncertain.
狒狒具有针对猪抗原的天然抗体。我们研究了在无特定病原体（SPF）条件下饲养的狒狒与在常规条件下（非SPF）饲养的狒狒之间，抗非Gal猪抗体水平是否存在差异，这可能与猪到狒狒器官移植后更好的结果相关。狒狒（n = 40）被饲养在室内（SPF组n = 8）或室内/室外围栏中（非SPF组n = 32），群体规模和结构相似。非SPF群体中存在许多非人灵长类物种常见的病原体，而这些病原体中的许多已从SPF群体中消除。监测全血细胞计数（CBC）,血液化学指标以及抗非Gal IgM和IgG水平。SPF和非SPF狒狒之间的CBC或血液化学指标没有显著差异。SPF狒狒的抗非Gal IgM水平显著低于非SPF狒狒（平均荧光强度7.1对8.8，P < 0.05）。一只SPF狒狒和两只非SPF狒狒的平均荧光强度>20；如果省略这三只狒狒，平均荧光强度分别为4.8（SPF）对7.5（非SPF）（P < 0.05）。两组中的抗非Gal IgG水平均极低（平均荧光强度1.0对1.0）。由于它们的抗非Gal IgM水平较低，在SPF条件下饲养的狒狒可能对异种移植研究有益，因为抗猪IgM与α1,3 - 半乳糖基转移酶基因敲除猪器官的初始结合可能较少，从而导致补体和/或内皮细胞活化较少。然而，即使在相同的SPF条件下，偶尔也会有一只狒狒表达高水平的抗非Gal IgM，其原因尚不确定。
