HIGH-LEVEL ENDOTHELIAL EXPRESSION OF HUMAN CD59 PROLONGS HEART FUNCTION IN AN EX VIVO MODEL OF XENOGRAFT REJECTION

Hyperacute rejection of discordant xenografts is dependent on activation of the complement system of the recipient. Transgenic expression of recipient complement regulatory factors in donor tissue has proved to be a promising approach to dealing with hyperacute rejection, although the relationship between the level of complement regulatory factor expression and the degree of protection is not well established. Here, we examine this relationship using CD59 transgenic mouse hearts in an ex vivo model of xenograft rejection.