Materials and methods for management of hyperacute rejection in human xenotransplantation

Patent Number: 7,201,899

Xenogeneic transplants from lower animals to humans are prevented in part by the hyper-rejection phenomena which ensues as a result of preformed antibodies against alpha-gal epitopes. Alpha-gal epiptopes are generated as a result of activity of the enzyme alpha.-1,3 galactosyltransferase.

This patent covers cells, including ES cells, for generation of knockout pigs or organs which lack the alpha.-1,3 galactosyltransferase gene, and as a result should not elicit hyperacute rejection when used in primates.

Unfortunately, numerous epitopes are known to exist in addition to alpha-gal that make transplantation difficult across allogeneic barriers, not to mention xenogeneic barriers.

View this patent on the USPTO website.