PORCINE TO MONKEY KIDNEY XENOTRANSPLANTAT ION

Hyperacut rejection due to natural antibodies is the most severe probl em in xenotransplantation. We were able to demonstrate in a discordant xenotransplant model that extracorporal perfusion of the recipients b lood through the donor liver or a Gal-alpha-(1,3)-Gal-affinity-adsorpt ion-column is effective in eliminating natural antibodies. Both method s prevented hyperacut rejection and the transplant kidneys had excelle nt renal function over 15 days. Beside that we found temporary engraft ment of the transplanted xenogen bone marrow cells.