Methods and materials for reducing cardiac xenograft rejection

Abstract

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 Sda 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for measuring the progress of cardiac xenograft immune rejection, said method comprising monitoring a primate recipient antibody response to an individual non-Gal endothelial cell membrane antigen present on the xenograft, wherein said non-Gal endothelial cell membrane antigen is selected from the group consisting of CD46, CD59, CD9, porcine PROCR, and ANXA2.