Transgenic pigs carrying both hHO-1 and hDAF transgenes for xenotransplantation

Patent Number: 7,378,569

Xenotransplantation offers the possibility of using animal organs either permanently as a substitute for human organs, or as a "bridge" until a suitable human organ may be found.  The most significant barriers to xenotransplantation appear to be innate in nature.  Specifically, the first barrier is the hyperacute rejection, which occurs because of a very high level of preformed antibodies that are found in humans and monkeys against glyco-epitopes found on lower animals such as pigs.  Overcoming the hyperacute rejection barrier was performed by Dr. David White (Scientific Founder of Sernova), who invented the human DAF transgenic pig.

The current patent seeks to improved on the human DAF transgenic pig by making a pig that is transgenic for both DAF and HO-1.

DAF is "Decay Accelerating Factor", it is a protein that inhibits complement activitation, thus protecting the cells.  HO-1 is hemoxygenase, an enzyme that is associated with induction of a variety of tissue protective responses such as upregulation of antiapoptotic genes. 

The patent has one independent claim covering the pig with the two transgenes under control of a chicken beta-actin promoter.  Independent claims cover specific cells and organs from the pig that may be useful for transplantation, this includes stem cells from the pig.

View this patent on the USPTO website.