Ve. Pagalois et al., Donor selection for xenotransplantation: detection of Gal alpha 1-3Gal on different porcine organs, INT SURG, 84(3), 1999, pp. 258-261
The expression of the major porcine xenoantigens (Gal alpha 1-3Gal) in diff
erent tissues varies between species. The selection of suitable donors and
the interpretation of studies which attempt to prevent hyperacute rejection
are dependent on donor expression of Gal alpha 1-3Gal, Screening of large
number of animals to find potential Gal alpha 1-3Gal negative donors requir
es a robust tissue-based and practical method of assessing Gal alpha 1-3Gal
expression. In this study, we have assessed the expression of Gal alpha 1-
3Gal in a variety of pig organs using anti Gal alpha 1-3Gal antibody. Biops
ies of heart, kidney ear and tail were obtained from 20 outbred pigs, Biops
ies were fixed in formalin and stained with a human anti Gal alpha 1-3Gal a
ntibody obtained from pooled human AB serum passed down a Gal alpha 1-3Gal
immunoadsorbent column. Tissue from all 4 organs from all 20 pigs expressed
Gal alpha 1-3Gal. This study shows that detection of Gal alpha 1-3Gal on a
n ear or tail biopsy is a simple but very reliable method for assessing Gal
alpha 1-3Gal expression on the heart and kidney and facilitates donor sele
ction for xenotransplantation.