B3

B3: Genetically engineered donor pigs with improved pancreatic islets

The goal of project B3 is to generate genetically improved donor pigs of pancreatic islets for xenotransplantation that i) are protected against immune rejection (expression of LEA29Y, PDL1; elimination of CCL2/MCP1); ii) exhibit improved survival after isolation, culture and transplantation (expression of XIAP); iii) are readily re-vascularised after transplantation (inducible expression of VEGFA); and iv) have improved structural and functional properties compared to wild-type (WT) islets. The latter goal includes generation of pigs with reporter genes that facilitate monitoring of maturation, function and expansion of neonatal islet cell clusters in vivo