Anti‐N‐glycolylneuraminic acid antibodies identified in healthy human serum

• DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-3089.2002.02138.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T23:56:50Z
• Authors: Alex Zhu; Rosa Hurst
• Keywords: Xenotransplantation

The first and major clinical obstacle in xenotransplantation is antibody-mediated hyperacute rejection. Although human natural antibodies against Galalpha1,3Gal (Gal) antigens, which are common on porcine cells organs, have been identified to play a role rejection, other non-Gal epitopes may be also involved the process. Here, we present evidence suggesting that majority of anti-non-Gal specific for carbohydrate structures carrying terminally linked N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc), xenoantigen existing almost all animals except humans. Furthermore, this anti-NeuGc activity detectable 85% healthy humans, implicating involvement NeuGc rejection importance developing strategies removing xenotransplantation.