Productive infection of primary human endothelial cells by pig endogenous retrovirus (PERV)

The potential risk of viral transmission in the setting of xenotransplantat ion has gained major attention. Different porcine cell types have been show n to release retroviral particles, which are infectious for human cell line s in vitro. However, there are only a few data on whether PERV (pig endogen ous retrovirus) is able to infect primary human cells. In this study we hav e analyzed endothelial cells, vascular fibroblasts, mesangial cells, mononu clear cells, hematopoetic stem cells and bone marrow stromal cells for PERV transmission. We now provide evidence for primary human endothelial cells, vascular fibroblasts, and mesangial cells to be susceptible to PERV transm ission. PERV infection was productive in endothelial cells and mesangial ce lls. Our data confirm and extend former reports concerning the PERV infecti on of human cells. The PERV infection of different primary human cells repr esents further significant evidence for a viral risk during xenotransplanta tion. In this context, special attention should be directed towards product ive infection of human endothelial cells: in the setting of xenotransplanta tion this cell type will have close contact with porcine cells and PERV par ticles.