Unusual Permeability of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus Subgroup A through Membrane Filters

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In xenotransplantation from pigs to humans, a bio-artificial endocrine pancreas (Bio-AEP), in which pancreatic endocrine cells are encapsulated within a semipermeable membrane of 100 nm pore size has been developed. We evaluated the permeability of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) through membrane filters using a pseudotype virus (LacZ(PERV-A)) containing a viral core derived from murine leukemia virus and an envelope (Env) from PERV subgroup A. Contrary to our expectation, LacZ(PERV-A) lost its infectivity by filtration through a membrane filter of 200 nm. This unusual phenotype was not observed in pseudotype viruses harboring Envs from other gammaretroviruses. The infectivity of LacZ(PERV-A) was significantly decreased by repeated freeze/thaw treatment, indicating that LacZ(PERV-A) was physically labile. In addition, LacZ(PERV-A) may be agglutinated because copy numbers of viral RNA after filtration was significantly reduced by filtration through the membrane of 200 nm. This phenotype is advantageous to develop a safe Bio-AEP blocking PERV infection.
社団法人　日本獣医学会の論文