Epigenetic regulation on the 5'-proximal CpG island of human porcine endogenous retrovirus subgroup A receptor 2/GPR172B

Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (PERV) - Molecular Structure and Replication Strategy in the Context of Retroviral Infection Risk of Human Cells

The xenotransplantation of porcine tissues may help overcome the shortage of human organs for transplantation. However, there are some concerns about recipient safety because the risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) transmission to human cells remains unknown. Although, to date, no PERV infections have been noted in vivo, the possibility of such infections has been confirmed in vitro. Better understanding of the structure and replication cycle of PERVs is a prerequisite for determining the risk of infection and planning PERV-detection strategies. This review presents the current state of knowledge about the structure and replication cycle of PERVs in the context of retroviral infection risk.

Porcine endogenous retroviruses in xenotransplantation--molecular aspects

In the context of the shortage of organs and other tissues for use in human transplantation, xenotransplantation procedures with material taken from pigs have come under increased consideration. However, there are unclear consequences of the potential transmission of porcine pathogens to humans. Of particular concern are porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs). Three subtypes of PERV have been identified, of which PERV-A and PERV-B have the ability to infect human cells in vitro. The PERV-C subtype does not show this ability but recombinant PERV-A/C forms have demonstrated infectivity in human cells. In view of the risk presented by these observations, the International Xenotransplantation Association recently indicated the existence of four strategies to prevent transmission of PERVs. This article focuses on the molecular aspects of PERV infection in xenotransplantation and reviews the techniques available for the detection of PERV DNA, RNA, reverse transcriptase activity and proteins, and anti-PERV antibodies to enable carrying out these recommendations. These methods could be used to evaluate the risk of PERV transmission in human recipients, enhance the effectiveness and reliability of monitoring procedures, and stimulate discussion on the development of improved, more sensitive methods for the detection of PERVs in the future.

Detection of porcine endogenous retrovirus in xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation can provide a virtually limitless supply of cells, tissues and organs for a variety of therapeutic procedures. Cells and tissues for use in human transplantation procedures could be supplied using material taken from pigs. However, there is a potential risk of transmission of porcine infectious agents, including porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs), to a novel human host, with as yet unknown consequences. Three subtypes of PERV have been identified, of which both PERV-A and PERV-B have the ability to infect human cells in vitro. The third subtype, PERV-C, does not show this ability. Recombinant PERV-A/C forms have demonstrated infectivity in human cell culture. Monitoring in xenotransplantation should comprise screening of the source pig herd (PERV-A and PERV-B level expression assessment, PERV-C detection) and screening of recipients (differentiation between PERV transmission and chimerism). The detection of PERVs includes analyses of both DNA and RNA (PCR and RT-PCR), quantitative determination of the level of PERV nucleic acids (real-time PCR and real-time RT-PCR), assessment of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity (RT assays) and viral and recipient protein detection (immunological methods). In summary, all available methods should be used in monitoring of PERVs in xenotransplantation, and caution should be exercised at all stages of monitoring. Such monitoring has enormous significance for eliminating the possibility of transmission of PERV infection, thus contributing to higher levels of safety in xenotransplantation.

Binding of transcription factor activating protein 2 γ on the 5'-proximal promoter region of human porcine endogenous retrovirus subgroup A receptor 2/GPR172B

BACKGROUND

Xenotransplantation is one of the solutions for the shortage of organ donors, and pigs have been considered to be the most suitable animal donors. Specific pathogen-free pigs are utilized in the xenotransplantation; however, pigs have infectious gammaretroviruses, named porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in their genome. Of them, PERV-A and PERV-B can infect human cells in vitro and potentially induce diseases like other gammaretroviruses. The human cellular receptors for PERV-A were identified and named human PERV-A receptor (HuPAR)-1 and HuPAR-2 (also called as GPR172A and GPR172B, respectively). We have recently reported that HuPAR-2 expression was regulated by epigenetic modification and preferentially expressed in placenta. However, the detailed mechanisms of HuPAR-2 expression have not been fully characterized. In this study, we analyzed molecular mechanisms associated with HuPAR-2 transcription through the identification of transcription factors that bind to the promoter region of HuPAR-2.

METHODS

In situ hybridization was performed to identify the cells expressing HuPAR-2 in placental tissues. Transcriptional activities were measured by dual-luciferase reporter assay using serial deletion mutants of HuPAR-2 5'-flanking region. To identify the transcription factors bound to the promoter region, in silico analysis, electrophoresis mobility shift assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were conducted. The effect of the transcription factor transcription factor activator protein (TFAP)-2γ on the promoter activities was investigated by overexpression of the factor.

RESULTS

We identified that HuPAR-2 was specifically expressed in villous trophoblast cells. We also identified that a region spanning from -126 to -32 had proximal promoter activities and TFAP-2γ bound to a region spanning from -58 to -35 in vitro and in vivo. The overexpression of TFAP-2γ also augmented the proximal promoter activity.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that TFAP-2γ is one of the transcription factors involved in the HuPAR-2 expression in human villous trophoblast cells. By studying transcriptional factors involved in the expression of HuPAR-2, we may find a clue to control the potential risks caused by PERV-A infection in xenotransplantation.