Pathological features in ‘humanized’ neonatal pig

Abstract

Cytidine monophosphate-Nacetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) hydroxylase (CMAH) and glycoprotein, alpha1, 3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) double knockout (DKO) pig models were produced to reduce immune reaction for xenotransplantation. However, the role of Neu5Gc and α-Gal in pigs has not been fully elucidated and it is necessary to consider the after-effect of inactivation of GGTA1 and CMAH in pigs. Hematological profiles of DKO pigs were analyzed through complete blood count (CBC). Histology of liver and spleen of DKO were investigated, and lectin blotting and mass spectrometry (MS) were performed to explore glycosylation changes in red blood cell (RBC) membranes of DKO pigs. DKO pigs showed common clinical signs such as weakness (100%), dyspnea (90%) and constipation (65%). DKO pigs revealed a significant decrease in RBC, hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HGB), and an increase in white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte (LYM), monocyte (MON), and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV). DKO piglets showed swollen liver and spleen, and exhibited raised deposition of hemosiderin and severe bleeding. Lectin assay and MS proved variations in glycosylation on RBC membranes. GGTA1/CMAH DKO pigs developed pathological features which are similar to anemic symptoms, and the variations in glycosylation on RBC membranes of DKO pigs may be attributed to the pathologies observed.

Keywords:

• Aanemia
• GGTA1/CMAH
• lectin
• xenotransplantation

Authors’ contributions

The experiment was designed by XJ Yin and HJ An. HM wrote the manuscript. Experiments were done and discussed by all authors. All authors approved of the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank our colleagues in the Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Transgenic Animal and Embryo Engineering.

Disclosure statement

The authors of this manuscript declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea [Grant No. IBS-R021-D1-2015-a02] and the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China [Grant No. 20150622005JC].