B4GALNT2 knock out pig
View Patent ↗This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing cardiac xenograft rejection. For example, methods and materials for preparing transgenic pigs expressing reduced or no endogenous Sd a or SDa-like glycans derived from the porcine β1,4 N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase 2 (B4GALNT2) glycosyltransferase and/or reduced or no endogenous α-Gal antigens, methods and materials for modifying the xenograft recipient's immunological response to non-Gal antigens (e.g. CD46, CD59, CD9, PROCR, and ANXA2) to reduce cardiac xenograft rejection, and methods and materials for monitoring the progress of xenotransplant immunologic rejection are provided.
1. A transgenic pig whose genome comprises a homozygous disruption of the endogenous βi, 4 N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase 2 (B4GALNT2) nucleic acid, wherein the pig does not express functional B4GALNT2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and wherein the pig exhibits no expression of Sd a or SDa-like glycans in the somatic cells as compared to a control non-transgenic pig.