The α-gal epitope (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R) in xenotransplantation

Many patients with failing organs (e.g., heart, liver or kidneys), do not receive the needed organ because of an insufficient number of organ donors. Pig xenografts have been considered as an alternative source of organs for transplantation. The major obstacle currently known to prevent pig to human xenotransplantation is the interaction between the human natural anti-Gal antibody and the alpha -gal epitope (Gal alpha1-3Gal beta1-4GlcNAc-R), abundantly expressed on pig cells. This short review describes the characteristics of anti-Gal and of the alpha -gal epitope, their role in inducing xenograft rejection and some experimental approaches for preventing this rejection. (C) 2001 Societe francaise de biochimie et biologie moleculaire / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.