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. 2025 Jul 29;38:14520. doi: 10.3389/ti.2025.14520

TABLE 1.

Overview of studies on Experimental Swine VCA models.

Author and year Study design Animals used Transplant model Heterotopic/orthotopic Facial VCA (yes/no) Tissue type Donor Recipient
Barone et al. [23] In vitro Complete MHC mismatched MGH miniature swine Gracilis VCA transplanted to the cervical region Heterotopic No Myocutaneous MGH miniature swine MGH miniature swine
Berkane et al. [33] Ex vivo Female Yorkshire pigs Bilateral partial hindlimb VCA N/A No Osteomyocutaneous Female Yorkshire pigs N/A
Blades et al. [43] In vivo Sinclair and Yucatan pigs VRAM flap transplanted to the neck region Heterotopic No Myocutaneous Sinclair pigs Yucatan pigs
Elgendy et al. [26] In vitro SLA- mismatched MGH miniature swines VRAM flap transplanted to dorso-lateral neck region Heterotopic No Myocutaneous MGH miniature swine MGH miniature swine
Fries et al. [35] In vivo SH- mismatched miniature swine Radio-ulnar forelimb VCA Orthotopic No Osteomyocutaneous SH- mismatched Yucatan miniature pigs SH- mismatched Yucatan miniature pigs with four SLA-HS
Ibrahim et al. [36] In vivo MHC-defined inbred MGH miniature swine Hind limb VCA transplanted to subcutaneous abdominal wall pockets Heterotopic No Osteomyocutaneous Male MGH miniature swine Female miniature swine
Kim et al. [25] In vivo Fully MHC mismatched MGH miniature swine Hind-limb VCA model Heterotopic No N/A MGH mini-swine MGH mini-swine
Kotsougiani et al. [28] In vivo Yucatan miniature pig Tibial defect VCA model Orthotopic No Osteomyocutaneous Yucatan mini pig tibia (SLA- and blood type compatibility) Yucatan mini pig tibia, age and size matched (SLA- and blood type compatibility)
Kuo et al. [29] In vitro Outbred miniature swine (genotypes: GPI-BB and PGD-AA) Hind limb VCA transplanted to subcutaneous abdominal wall pockets Heterotopic No Osteomyocutaneous Outbred miniature swine (lan-yu strain; age 3 months; weight 12–20 kg) Outbred miniature swine (lan-yu strain; age 3 months; weight 12–20 kg)
Kuo et al. [29] In vivo Outbred miniature swine (Lan-Yu and Hwa-Ban strains) Hemi-facial flap (skin, muscle, ear cartilage, nerve, parotid gland, surrounding tissue) Orthotopic Yes Chondromyocutaneous Lan-Yu and Hwa-Ban strain Lan-Yu strain
Kuo et al. [30] In vitro Outbred miniature swine Hind limb VCA transplanted to subcutaneous abdominal wall pockets Heterotopic No Osteomyocutaneous Outbred miniature swine lan-yu strain; age 3 months; weight 12–20 kg Outbred miniature swine lan-yu strain; age 3 months; weight 12–20 kg
Kuo et al. [31] Ex vivo Outbred miniature swine Hind limb VCA transplanted to subcutaneous abdominal wall pockets Heterotopic No Osteomyocutaneous Female outbred miniature swine Male outbred miniature swine
Leonard et al. [24] In vitro MGH miniature swine Hind limb VCA transplanted to neck or abdominal wall region Heterotopic No Fasciocutaneous MGH miniature swine with PAA-positive SLA MGH miniature Swine with PAA-negative SLA
Mathes et al. [32] In utero and in vitro MGH miniature swine and outbred Yorkshire sows and boars Hind limb VCA transplanted to subcutaneous abdominal wall pockets Heterotopic No Osteomyocutaneous SLA homozygous MGH miniature swine Outbred Yorkshire sow and boar fetuses (negative for SLA class Ic)
Park et al. [44] In vivo Domestic swine Hemi-facial flap (skin, mucosa, subcutaneous fat tissue, ear, maxilla and mandibular bone) Orthotopic Yes Osteochondrocutaneous Domestic swine Domestic swine
Shanmugarajah et al. [38] In vitro Miniature MGH swine model Hind limb VCA transplanted to the neck region Heterotopic No Fasciocutaneous HC miniature swine model (SLAgg class Ic/iid) HC miniature swine model (SLAcc class Ic/iic)
Tratnig-Frankl et al. [39] In vivo/ex vivo MHC-defined miniature swine Gracilis VCA model Orthotopic No Myocutaneous MHC-defined miniature swine MHC-defined miniature swine (group 1: class I and class II match; group 2: class I and class II missmatch)
Wachtman et al. [27] In vitro Yucatan miniature swine Hind limb VCA transplanted to subcutaneous abdominal wall pockets Heterotopic No Osteomyocutaneous Yucatan miniature swine Yucatan miniature swine
Waldner et al. [40] In vivo Partially inbred SLA–mismatched miniature swine (homozygous HC alleles) VRAM flap transplanted to the neck region Heterotopic No Myocutaneous Miniature swine (hetero- and homozygous for HC; 2-3 months old; weight between 10 and 20 kg; full SLA mismatch Miniature swine, (hetero- and homozygous for HC; 3-5 months old; weight between 20 and 30 kg; full SLA mismatch
Wang et al. [45] Ex vivo Yorkshire swines (SLA-mismatch in one) Gracilis VCA transplanted to the neck region Heterotopic No Myocutaneous Yorkshire swine Yorkshire swine
Wu et al. [42] In vivo SLA- mismatch swine Gracilis VCA model Heterotopic No Myocutaneous Swine with single SLA mismatch Swine with single SLA mismatch
Zhang et al. [34] In vivo MHC-mismatched Swiss landrace pigs Knee VCA transplanted to subcutaneous abdominal wall pockets Heterotopic No Osteomyocutaneous Swiss landrace pigs (MHC-mismatched; aged 11–14 weeks) Swiss landrace pigs (MHC-mismatched)

MGH, Massachusetts General Hospital; SLA, Swine leukocyte antigen; HC, histocompatibility complex; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; VCA, vascularized composite allotransplant; SH, single haplotype; PAA, pig allelic antigen; CS, Cold Storage; TAC, tacrolimus; MMF, Mycophenolate Mofetil; MPDN, Methylprednisolone; CXA, cyclosporine A; CD3-IT, CD3-Immunotoxin; (CTLA4-Ig), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin; POD, postoperative day; AR, acute rejection; DSAs, donor specific antibodies; N/A, not applicable; TGMS, triglycerol monostearate; VRAM, vertical rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap, ASC, adipose-derived stem cell; AV, arteriovenous.