DEPLETION OF ANTI-GAL ANTIBODIES IN BABOONS BY INTRAVENOUS THERAPY WITH BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN CONJUGATED TO GAL OLIGOSACCHARIDES

Abstract

Prevention of the induced humoral response to Gal and non-Gal epitopes by anti-CD154 mAb therapy has been reported previously by our group, but our studies are the first to demonstrate a therapy that resulted in an absence of natural anti-Gal Ab for a prolonged period. The combination of BSA-Gal and T cell costimulatory blockade may facilitate survival of pig cells and organs transplanted into primates. The return in one baboon of Ab reactive with the Gal type 2 oligosaccharide, but not type 6, indicates some polymorphism of anti-Gal Ab and suggests that, to be effective in all cases, the infusion of a combination of type 6 and type 2 BSA-Gal may be required.