Knock out of α1,3-galactosyltransferase or expression of α1,2-fucosyltransferase further protects CD55- and CD59-expressing mouse hearts in an ex vivo model of xenograft rejection

Background. Organs from transgenic animals with high-level endothelial expression of the human complement regulatory factors CD55 and CD59 are significantly protected from human complement-mediated injury. Elimination or reduction of the major xeno-epitope alpha Gal, achieved by knocking out the alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase gene (Gal KO) or expressing human alpha 1,2-fucosyltransferase (H transferase or HTF), also affords protection, although to a lesser degree. In this study, we examined whether the protection provided by strong CD55 and CD59 expression can be augmented by the Gal KO or HTF modifications. Methods. Hearts from four groups of mice (wild type, CD55/CD59, CD55/CD59/HTF, and CD55/CD59/Gal KO) were perfused ex vivo with 40% human plasma. Mean heart work for each group was compared over a 60-min period. Results, Wild-type hearts ceased to function effectively within 15 min of plasma addition. CD55/CD59 hearts displayed prolonged survival and maintained approximately 10% maximum work at the end of perfusion. Introduction of Gal KO or HTF onto the CD55/ CD59 background resulted in a further prolongation, with work maintained at 20-30% of the maximum level. Conclusions. We used an ex vivo model to demonstrate that eliminating aGal expression further prolongs the function of mouse hearts expressing high levels of CD55 and CD59, In addition, we showed that reducing alpha Gal by expressing HTF is equally as effective in prolonging CD55/CD59 heart function as knocking out Gal transferase, thus providing a feasible strategy for translating these advances to the pig.