Biomaterial Database

Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses and Xenotransplantation, 2021. 2021

Joachim Denner

Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, Free University Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.

Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of all pigs, and some of them are able to infect human cells. Therefore, PERVs pose a risk for xenotransplantation, the transplantation of pig cells, tissues, or organ to humans in order to alleviate the shortage of human donor organs. Up to 2021, a huge body of knowledge about PERVs has been accumulated regarding their biology, including replication, recombination, origin, host range, and immunosuppressive properties. Until now, no PERV transmission has been observed in clinical trials transplanting pig islet cells into diabetic humans, in preclinical trials transplanting pig cells and organs into nonhuman primates with remarkable long survival times of the transplant, and in infection experiments with several animal species. Nevertheless, in order to prevent virus transmission to the recipient, numerous strategies have been developed, including selection of PERV-C-free animals, RNA interference, antiviral drugs, vaccination, and genome editing. Furthermore, at present there are no more experimental approaches to evaluate the full risk until we move to the clinic.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007166	Immunosuppressive Agents	Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of T-CELLS or by inhibiting the activation of HELPER CELLS. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of INTERLEUKINS and other CYTOKINES are emerging.	Immunosuppressant,Immunosuppressive Agent,Immunosuppressants,Agent, Immunosuppressive,Agents, Immunosuppressive
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012192	Retroviridae Infections	Virus diseases caused by the RETROVIRIDAE.	Retrovirus Infections,Infections, Retroviridae,Infections, Retrovirus,XMRV Infection,Xenotropic MuLV-related Virus Infection,Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related Virus Infection,Infection, Retroviridae,Infection, Retrovirus,Infection, XMRV,Infections, XMRV,Retroviridae Infection,Retrovirus Infection,XMRV Infections,Xenotropic MuLV related Virus Infection,Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus related Virus Infection
D013552	Swine	Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA).	Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D013553	Swine Diseases	Diseases of domestic swine and of the wild boar of the genus Sus.	Disease, Swine,Diseases, Swine,Swine Disease
D014183	Transplantation, Heterologous	Transplantation between animals of different species.	Xenotransplantation,Heterograft Transplantation,Heterografting,Heterologous Transplantation,Xenograft Transplantation,Xenografting,Transplantation, Heterograft,Transplantation, Xenograft
D015047	Zoonoses	Diseases of non-human animals that may be transmitted to HUMANS or may be transmitted from humans to non-human animals.	Zoonotic Spillover,Zoonotic Diseases,Zoonotic Infections,Zoonotic Infectious Diseases,Disease, Zoonotic,Disease, Zoonotic Infectious,Diseases, Zoonotic,Diseases, Zoonotic Infectious,Infection, Zoonotic,Infections, Zoonotic,Infectious Disease, Zoonotic,Infectious Diseases, Zoonotic,Spillovers, Zoonotic,Zoonotic Disease,Zoonotic Infection,Zoonotic Infectious Disease,Zoonotic Spillovers
D058507	Host Specificity	The properties of a pathogen that makes it capable of infecting one or more specific hosts. The pathogen can include PARASITES as well as VIRUSES; BACTERIA; FUNGI; or PLANTS.	Host Specialization,Host Range,Host Species Specificity,Host Ranges,Host Specializations,Host Species Specificities,Host Specificities,Range, Host,Ranges, Host,Specialization, Host,Specializations, Host,Specificities, Host,Specificities, Host Species,Specificity, Host,Specificity, Host Species
D017988	Gammaretrovirus	A genus of RETROVIRIDAE comprising endogenous sequences in mammals, related RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS VIRUSES, AVIAN, and a reptilian virus. Many species contain oncogenes and cause leukemias and sarcomas.	Mammalian Type C Retroviruses,Retroviruses Type C, Mammalian,Tumor Viruses, Murine,Type C Retroviruses, Mammalian,Viper retrovirus,Gammaretroviruses,Murine Tumor Viruses,Viper retroviruses
D020077	Endogenous Retroviruses	Retroviruses that have integrated into the germline (PROVIRUSES) that have lost infectious capability but retained the capability to transpose.	ERV,ERVs,Endogenous Retrovirus,HERV,HERVs,Human Endogenous Retrovirus,Human Endogenous Retroviruses,Retroviruses, Endogenous,Endogenous Retrovirus, Human,Endogenous Retroviruses, Human,Retrovirus, Endogenous,Retrovirus, Human Endogenous,Retroviruses, Human Endogenous