The tremendous promise of a clinical trial of pig islet xenotransplantation is offset by a potentially devastating public health risk: cross species infection. Recent evidence demonstrates that all pigs contain porcine endogenous retroviruses (PoERV). If xenotransplantation of pig islets activates PoERV replication, there is a real risk of spreading this retrovirus to the human host. Therefore, there is a critical need to determine the risk of human infection. The primary objective of this proposal is to develop a unique small animal model using immunodeficient mouse -> human hematopoietic cell chimeras transplanted with pig islets.
Specific Aim #1 is to determine the risk of infecting primary human T and B cells and macrophages with PoERV after pig islet transplantation.
Specific Aim #2 is to determine the risk of infecting the cellular elements of the human bone marrow thymic and peripheral lymphoid compartments with PoERV after pig islet transplantation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI045494-02
Application #
6170368
Study Section
Surgery, Anesthesiology and Trauma Study Section (SAT)
Program Officer
Prasad, Shiv A
Project Start
1999-07-01
Project End
2003-06-30
Budget Start
2000-07-01
Budget End
2001-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$283,311
Indirect Cost
Name
Scripps Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Ericsson, Thomas A; Takeuchi, Yasuhiro; Templin, Christian et al. (2003) Identification of receptors for pig endogenous retrovirus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:6759-64