BACKGROUND
Neonatal porcine pancreatic tissue may be a potential source of islet transplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes. Gal 1,3 Gal antigen (Gal epitope) is a xenoantigen which is responsible for hyperacute xenograft rejection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of Gal epitope and galactosyl transferase mRNA in porcine neonatal pancreatic tissue. METHOD: Porcine neonatal pancreatic cell clusters (NPCCs) were isolated using collagenase and incubated in various culture condition. They were stained with Gal specific lectin for the detection of Gal epitope. Expression of 1,3 galactosyl transferase mRNA was assessed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Gal epitope was expressed in both neonatal porcine pancreas and cell clusters. Most of Gal epitope expressed cells were endothelial cells and ductal epithelial cells. A small number of cells stained positive for insulin were also positive for Gal epitope. In some area of monolayer culture of porcine neonatal islet cluster, scattered insulin positive cells coexpressed the Gal epitope. The expression of 1,3 galactosyl transferase mRNA were lower in islet than other tissues. Culture using extracelluar matrix or 3D gel increased the expression of 1,3 galactosyl transferase mRNA levels. CONCLUSION: Gal epitope was expressed in ductal epithelial cells and some of beta cells of porcine neonatal pancreatic tissue. Expression of Gal epitope in porcine neonatal pancreatic cell cluster may be a problem that needs to be solved before porcine NPCCs can be used in human.