[Xenotransplantation of hDAF-transgenic swine hearts]

Abstract

Hearts of transgenic pigs expressing a human regulator of complement activation, decay accelerating factor (hDAF), were transplanted either heterotopically into the abdomen of cynomolgus monkeys or orthotopically into baboons. None of these transgenic hearts was hyperacutely rejected. Immunosuppression with a combination of cyclosporine A, cyclophosphamide and steroids produced a maximum survival of 62 days (median 40 days) in the heterotopic model. Transgenic hearts transplanted into the orthotopic position allowed a maximum survival of 9 days (median 2.5 days). A more effective and less toxic immunosuppressive protocol for the prevention of accelerated xenograft rejection is the subject of ongoing research. The use of organs from transgenic pigs may help to solve the problem of donor shortage in clinical allotransplantation.