Calcification of decellularized and alpha-galactosidase-treated bovine pericardial tissue in an alpha-Gal knock-out mouse implantation model: comparison with primate pericardial tissue

摘要

Immune reaction against the alpha-Gal(Gal alpha 1,3-Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-R) epitope is known to be one of the important factors for calcification of bioprostheses. The genetically manipulated alpha-Gal knock-out (KO) mice lacking the alpha-Gal epitope and containing anti-alpha-Gal antibodies may simulate an immune response against xenoantigens in primates including humans. The aims of this study were (i) to compare calcification and immune reactions of glutaraldehyde (GA)-fixed bovine with primate pericardium and (ii) to assess the differences in bovine pericardium treated with decellularization and alpha-galactosidase, using an alpha-Gal KO mouse implantation model.