Tolerization of anti-Galalpha1-3Gal natural antibody-forming B cells by induction of mixed chimerism

J Exp Med. 1998 Apr 20;187(8):1335-42. doi: 10.1084/jem.187.8.1335.

Abstract

Xenotransplantation could overcome the severe shortage of allogeneic organs, a major factor limiting organ transplantation. Unfortunately, transplantation of organs from pigs, the most suitable potential donor species, results in hyperacute rejection in primate recipients, due to the presence of anti-Galalpha1-3Gal (Gal) natural antibodies (NAbs) in their sera. We evaluated the ability to tolerize anti-Gal NAb-producing B cells in alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (GalT KO) mice using bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from GalT+/+ wild-type (WT) mice. Lasting mixed chimerism was achieved in KO mice by cotransplantation of GalT KO and WT marrow after lethal irradiation. The levels of anti-Gal NAb in sera of mixed chimeras were reduced markedly 2 wk after BMT, and became undetectable at later time points. Immunization with Gal+/+ xenogeneic cells failed to stimulate anti-Gal antibody production in mixed chimeras, whereas the production of non-Gal-specific antixenoantigen antibodies was stimulated. An absence of anti-Gal-producing B cells was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunospot assays in mixed KO + WT --> KO chimeras. Thus, mixed chimerism efficiently induces anti-Gal-specific B cell tolerance in addition to T cell tolerance, providing a single approach to overcoming both the humoral and the cellular immune barriers to discordant xenotransplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Disaccharides / immunology*
  • Galactosyltransferases / deficiency
  • Galactosyltransferases / genetics
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Radiation Chimera*
  • Swine
  • Transplantation, Heterologous / immunology*

Substances

  • Disaccharides
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • galactosyl-(1-3)galactose
  • Galactosyltransferases
  • beta-D-galactosyl-N-acetylglucosaminylglycopeptide alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase