A COMPARISON OF FETAL AND ADULT PORCINE ISLETS WITH REGARD TO Gal?? (1,3)Gal EXPRESSION AND THE ROLE OF HUMAN IMMUNOGLOBULINS AND COMPLEMENT IN ISLET CELL CYTOTOXICITY1

Gal alpha(1,3)Gal expression is occasionally detectable on adult porcine islet cells, but not as readily and at a lower level, compared with fetal islet cells. Thus, as porcine fetal islets mature to adult islets, the expression of the Gal alpha(1,3)Gal epitope gradually diminishes. Consequently, cytotoxic anti-Gal alpha(1,3)Gal antibodies in human serum play an important role in the lysis of fetal but not adult porcine islet cells.