Production of Cloned Miniature Pigs Expressing High Levels of Human Apolipoprotein(a) in Plasma

PLoS One. 2015 Jul 6;10(7):e0132155. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132155. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

High lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. However, because apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], the unique component of Lp(a), is found only in primates and humans, the study of human Lp(a) has been hampered due to the lack of appropriate animal models. Using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) techniques, we produced transgenic miniature pigs expressing human apo(a) in the plasma. First, we placed the hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged cDNA of human apo(a) under the control of the β-actin promoter and cytomegalovirus enhancer, and then introduced this construct into kidney epithelial cells. Immunostaining of cells with anti-HA antibody allowed identification of cells stably expressing apo(a); one of the positive clones was used to provide donor cells for SCNT, yielding blastocysts that expressed apo(a). Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections and RT-PCR analysis of total RNA from organs of cloned piglet revealed that apo(a) is expressed in various tissues/organs including heart, liver, kidney, and intestine. More importantly, a transgenic line exhibited a high level (>400 mg/dL) of Lp(a) in plasma, and the transgenic apo(a) gene was transmitted to the offspring. Thus, we generated a human apo(a)-transgenic miniature pig that can be used as a model system to study advanced atherosclerosis related to human disease. The anatomical and physiological similarities between the swine and human cardiovascular systems will make this pig model a valuable source of information on the role of apo(a) in the formation of atherosclerosis, as well as the mechanisms underlying vascular health and disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / metabolism*
  • Apoprotein(a) / biosynthesis*
  • Apoprotein(a) / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism
  • Blastocyst / cytology
  • Blastocyst / metabolism
  • Cloning, Organism*
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Hemagglutinins / genetics
  • Hemagglutinins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • Swine* / genetics
  • Swine* / metabolism
  • Swine, Miniature* / genetics
  • Swine, Miniature* / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Hemagglutinins
  • Apoprotein(a)

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Management Expenses Grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. 20580311 to MY). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.