Is there a correlation between anti-pig antibody levels in humans and geographic location during childhood?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

An initial observation suggested high levels of anti-pig antibodies in healthy humans who had spent their childhood in the Middle East. We tested larger cohorts to determine whether anti-pig antibody levels correlated with the geographic location in which the subject spent his/her childhood, because this might have implications for clinical trials of xenotransplantation.

METHODS:

Anti-pig IgM and IgG levels (by flow cytometry using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from wild-type and α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout pigs) and anti-Gal IgM and IgG levels (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were measured in 75 volunteers. Comparisons of antibody levels were also made based on subject age, gender, ABO blood group, diet, and history of vaccination.

RESULTS:

Antibody binding to α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout pig cells was less than to wild-type cells. There was a reduction in anti-pig IgM and anti-Gal IgM, but a slight increase in anti-nonGal IgG, with age. Women had higher levels of anti-Gal IgM than men. Blood group A subjects had higher levels of anti-pig IgM and IgG than those of group AB. Diet had no influence on antibody levels. Typhoid or measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was associated with lower anti-nonGal IgG or anti-Gal IgG, respectively, whereas influenza vaccination was associated with higher anti-nonGal IgG. There were some significant variations in antibody levels associated with location during childhood, with subjects from the Middle East demonstrating higher anti-nonGal IgG and anti-Gal IgG.

CONCLUSION:

Clinical trials of xenotransplantation may be influenced by various factors, including the geographic location of the recipient during childhood, possibly associated with exposure to different microorganisms.

• Authors: Goutham Kumar, Vikas Satyananda, Jason Fang, Hao Zhou, Minoru Fujita, Burcin Ekser, Cassandra Long, Eefje Dons, Qing Sun, David Ayares, Hidetaka Hara, David K C Cooper
• Journal: Transplantation (Transplantation) Vol. 96 Issue 4 Pg. 387-93 (Aug 27 2013) ISSN: 1534-6080 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23887601 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• ABO Blood-Group System
• Antibodies, Heterophile
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• Galactosyltransferases
• N-acetyllactosaminide alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase
• Galactose

Topics

• ABO Blood-Group System
• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Antibodies, Heterophile (blood)
• Child
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Galactose (immunology)
• Galactosyltransferases (deficiency, genetics)
• Gene Knockout Techniques
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Immunoglobulin M (blood)
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (enzymology, immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Middle East (ethnology)
• Sus scrofa (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• United States
• Young Adult