Production of Transgenic Micro-Pig Expressing Human Heme Oxygenase 1

• Main Authors: Ok Jae Koo, Hyun Ju Oh, Byeong Chun Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology 2015-12-01
• Series: Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• Subjects: transgenic pig; somatic cell nuclear transfer; heme oxygenase 1; islet xenotransplantation
• Online Access: http://www.e-jarb.org/journal/view.html?uid=1500&vmd=Full

Xenotransplantation of pig islet regarded as a good alternative to allotransplantation. However, cellular death mediated by hypoxia-reoxygenation injury after transplantation disturb success of this technique. In the present study, we produce transgenic pig expressing human heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) genes to overcome cellular death for improving efficiency of islet xenotransplantation. Particularly, Korean miniature pig breed, Micro-Pig, was used in the present study. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique was used to produce the HO1 transgenic pig. Six alive transgenic piglets were produced and all the transgenic pigs were founded to have transgene in their genomic DNA and the gene was expressed in all tested organs. Also, in vitro cultured fibroblasts derived from the HO1 transgenic pig showed low reactive oxygen species level, improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis level.