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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jun 3.
Published in final edited form as: Cell Transplant. 2011 Apr 29;20(0):1915–1920. doi: 10.3727/096368911X566253

Human CD47 expression permits survival of porcine cells in immunodeficient mice that express SIRPα capable of binding to human CD47

Chunfeng Wang *,†,1, Hui Wang *,‡,1, Kentaro Ide §, Yuantao Wang *, Nico Van Rooijen , Hideki Ohdan §, Yong-Guang Yang *,‡
PMCID: PMC3670959  NIHMSID: NIHMS465423  PMID: 21535911

Abstract

Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) is a critical immune inhibitory receptor on macrophages, and its interaction with CD47 prevents autologous phagocytosis. We have previously shown that pig CD47 does not interact with human SIRPα, and that human CD47 expression inhibits phagocytosis of porcine cells by human macrophages in vitro. In this study, we have investigated the potential of human CD47 expression to promote porcine cell survival in vivo. Human CD47-expressing and control porcine B-lymphoma cells were transplanted into T and B cell-deficient non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice that express SIRPα capable of interacting with human CD47. Only the human CD47-expressing porcine lymphoma cells survived and were able to form tumors in NOD/SCID mice; however, both the control and human CD47-expressing porcine cells survived in macrophage-depleted NOD/SCID mice. These results indicate that transgenic expression of human CD47 may provide an effective approach to inhibiting macrophage-mediated xenograft rejection in clinical xenotransplantation.

Keywords: CD47, macrophage, pig, signal regulatory protein α, xenotransplantation

Introduction

Xenotransplantation from pigs may provide a solution to the scarcity of human donors, but this type of clinical translation is primarily hampered by strong xenoimmune responses (7,16,20,28). Because of the extensive molecular incompatibilities between the donor and host, innate immune responses, including those mediated by natural antibodies, complement, macrophages and NK cells, play a much greater role in the rejection of xenografts than in allograft rejection. Recipient macrophages are activated and rapidly recruited after xenotransplantation, and their responses to xenoantigens occur before T cell activation (10). Macrophages cause almost immediate rejection of xenogeneic bone marrow cells, even in the absence of adaptive immunity (1,3), which poses a formidable obstacle to the application of mixed chimerism for induction of xenotransplantation tolerance. Macrophages have also been found to mediate the rejection of porcine islet xenografts in both rodents (9,11,17,26) and primates (19).

Macrophage activation is regulated by the balance between stimulatory and inhibitory signals. CD47 (also known as the integrin-associated protein) is a member of the Ig superfamily and it is expressed ubiquitously in all tissues (5). Signaling regulatory protein (SIRP)α (also known as CD172a or SHPS-1) is an inhibitory receptor expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) that recognizes CD47 as a ‘marker of self’ (2,5). The CD47-SIRPα interaction provides a ‘don’t eat me’ signal to macrophages, which is required for preventing phagocytosis of normal self hematopoietic cells. We have recently shown that the lack of interaction between pig CD47 and mouse SIRPα is critically associated with macrophage-mediated xenograft rejection in mice (24). We also observed that pig CD47 does not functionally interact with human SIRPα, and that human CD47 expression reduces phagocytosis of porcine cells by human macrophages in vitro (12). A recent study demonstrated that, due to polymorphisms in the NOD SIRPα allele, NOD mouse SIRPα is capable of cross-reacting with human CD47, and such a cross-reactivity prevents human hematopoietic cells from rejection by macrophages in the mouse model (21). In the present study, we used NOD/SCID mice to assess the potential of human CD47 expression to inhibit macrophage-mediated rejection of porcine cells in vivo.

Materials and Methods

Mice and cell lines

Non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice were purchased from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME), and housed in a specific pathogen-free microisolator environment. Protocols involving animals used in this study were approved by the Massachusetts General Hospital Subcommittee of Research Animal Care, and all of the experiments were performed accordingly. Human CD47-expressing (hCD47-LCL) and control (pKS-LCL) porcine cell lines were generated by transfecting porcine B lymphoma cell line (LCL) cells with pKS336-hCD47 or empty pKS336 vector, respectively, as described previously (12).

In vitro cytotoxicity assay

hCD47-LCL cells and pKS-LCL cells were mixed (at 1:1 ratio) and co-cultured (4×104 /well) with or without human macrophages in 24-well plates, and the ratios of hCD47-LCL cells to pKS-LCL cells in the cultures were determined every day for 8 days by flow cytometry using anti-human CD47 mAb (B6H12; Pharmingen, San Diego, CA) and anti-pig MHC class I (pMHC-I; clone 2.27.3). Human macrophages were differentiated from human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 cells (ATCC, Manassas, VA) by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (100 ng/mL) for 2 days, and were used after washing out the non-adherent cells.

Porcine cell transplantation in NOD/SCID mice

Porcine cells were injected into the peritoneal cavity or renal subcapsular space of NOD/SCID mice. Some NOD/SCID mice were treated with clodronate-liposomes to deplete macrophages. Clodronate was a gift from Roche Diagnostics GmbH (Mannheim, Germany), and liposome encapsulation was performed as described previously (22). NOD/SCID mice were intravenously injected with clodronate-liposomes every five days until analysis. Porcine cell survival was determined by flow cytometric analysis (FACScalibur; BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) using fluorescence-conjugated anti-pMHC-I (clone 2.27.3) and anti-human CD47 (B6H12). Each experimental group contained between 3 and 12 mice.

Statistical analysis

Significant differences between groups were determined by student’s t test using Prism 4 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA). A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Human CD47 expression enables porcine LCL cells survive in NOD/SCID mice

We first compared the survival of human CD47-expressing (hCD47-LCL) and control (pKSLCL) porcine LCL cells in NOD/SCID mice after intraperitoneal injection. In vitro assay confirmed that hCD47-LCL cells are significantly more resistant than pKS-LCL cells to destruction by human macrophages (Figure 1), which is consistent with our previous observations (12). NOD/SCID mice were intraperitoneally injected with the 1:1 mixed hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells (5×107 /mouse in total; Figure 2A), and sacrificed either when they first showed signs consistent with tumor development (lethargy, hunched posture, weight loss, and palpable abdominal swelling and/or mass) or at day 45 post-injection. In the 12 mice examined, five developed visible tumors (Figure 2B). Tumor cell suspensions were subsequently prepared and stained with anti-pig class I and anti-human CD47 in order to detect the survival of hCD47-LCL vs. pKS-LCL cells. Flow cytometric analysis of the tumor cell suspensions revealed that all tumor cells from these mice expressed human CD47, indicating that hCD47-LCL, but not pKS-LCL cells, were capable of surviving in NOD/SCID mice (Table 1 and Figure 2B).

Figure 1. Human CD47 expression reduces the susceptibility porcine LCL cells to cytotoxicity by human macrophages.

Figure 1

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hCD47-LCL cells and pKS-LCL cells were mixed (at 1:1 ratio) and co-cultured (4×104 /well) with or without human THP-1 macrophages, and the ratios of hCD47-LCL cells to pKS-LCL cells in the cultures were determined every day for 8 days by flow cytometry. A. Flow cytometric analysis of mixed hCD47-LCL cells and pKS-LCL cells stained with anti-human CD47 mAb (prior to co-culture). Open and filled histograms represent hCD47-LCL (hCD47+) and pKS-LCL (hCD47-) cells, respectively. B. Ratios of hCD47-LCL (pMHC-I+hCD47+) to pKS-LCL (pMHC-I+hCD47−) cells in the co-cultures with (○) or without (●) human THP-1 macrophages at the indicated time points. Combined results from 3 independent experiments are presented. *p < 0.01; **p < 0.001.

Figure 2. Human CD47-expressing porcine LCL cells show significantly improved survival relative to control LCL cells in NOD/SCID mice.

Figure 2

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NOD/SCID mice were injected with 1:1 mixed hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells (5×107 /mouse in total). A–B. Porcine cells were injected into the peritoneal cavity of NOD/SCID mice (n=12; see Table 1). A. Flow cytometric analysis of the porcine cell inoculum stained with anti-huCD47 and anti-pig MHC class I. B. Macroscopic (left) and histologic (H&E; middle) analysis of tumor tissues, and flow cytometric profile of tumor cell suspension stained with anti-huCD47 and anti-pig MHC class I (right) from a representative mouse. C–D. Porcine cells were injected into the renal subcapsular space of NOD/SCID mice (n=5; see Table 1). C. Porcine cell inoculum stained with anti-huCD47 and anti-pig MHC class I. D. Macroscopic appearance of a kidney with tumor (left) and flow cytometric analysis of tumor cell suspension (right) from a representative mouse.

Table 1.

Tumor formation by hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells in NOD/SCID mice

LCL cell administration (n)1 No. with tumor (time of analysis)2 No. with hCD47-LCL / No. with pKS-LCL3
Peritoneal Cavity (12) 5 (17, 21, 31, 35, 45) 5/0
Kidney capsule (5) 4 (14, 21, 35, 35) 4/0
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1

A mixture (1:1) of hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells (total 5×107 cells/mouse) were injected into peritoneal cavity (n=12) or renal subcapsular space (n=5).

2

Number of mice with visible tumor at sacrifice (days after LCL cell administration).

3

Number of mice with hCD47-LCL (human CD47+) and pKS-LCL (human CD47−) tumor cells determined by flow cytometric analysis of tumor cell suspensions using anti-human CD47 mAb.

Similar results were obtained when a mixture (1:1) of hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells was injected into the renal subcapsular space of NOD/SCID mice. These mice were sacrificed between 2 and 5 weeks after LCL cell injection, and tumors were found in four of the five mice analyzed (Table 1). Again, all surviving tumor cells detected in these mice were determined to be human CD47+ hCD47-LCL cells by flow cytometric analysis using anti-human CD47 mAb (Table 1 and Figure 2C–D). These results clearly show that human CD47 expression is capable of markedly improving the survival of porcine LCL cells in NOD/SCID mice.

Recipient macrophages are responsible for the rejection of porcine LCL cells in NOD/SCID mice

To determine whether the observed advantage of hCD47-LCL cells over pKS-LCL cells to survive in NOD/SCID mice was due to protection against phagocytosis by human CD47 expression, we next compared the survival of these cells in macrophage-depleted NOD/SCID mice. Macrophage depletion was achieved by injection of clodronate-liposomes as previously described (1,23). NOD/SCID mice were treated with clodronate-liposomes every five days; three days after the first injection of clodronate-liposomes, hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells were injected into the subcapsular space of left and right kidney, respectively. These mice were sacrificed 5 weeks later and all had developed large tumors on both kidneys (Figure 3A–B; n=3). Flow cytometric analysis of excised tumor cell suspensions demonstrated that the tumors on the left and right kidneys were formed by the respectively injected hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells (Figure 3C). Despite the relatively small number of mice examined, this result provides strong evidence that pKS-LCL cells are capable of surviving in macrophage-depleted NOD/SCID mice. Taken together, our data indicate that porcine LCL cells are susceptible to rejection by macrophages, and that human CD47 expression is capable of preventing LCL cells from destruction by macrophages in NOD/SCID mice.

Figure 3. Both hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells can survive and form tumors in macrophage-depleted NOD/SCID mice.

Figure 3

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Macrophage-depleted NOD/SCID mice (n=3) were injected with hCD47-LCL and pKS-LCL cells into the subcapsular space of left (top panel) and right (bottom panel) kidney (5×107 per kidney), respectively. A. Flow cytometric analysis of hCD47-LCL (top) and pKS-LCL (bottom) cell inocula. B. Tumors found in left and right kidneys. C. Flow cytometric analysis of tumor cells from left and right kidneys.

Discussion

In the study presented herein, we show that human CD47-expressing porcine LCL cells can survive as xenografts in NOD/SCID mice. However, both human CD47-expressing and control porcine LCL cells were able to survive in macrophage-depleted NOD/SCID mice, demonstrating that human CD47 expression was able to prevent porcine cells from being rejected via destruction by recipient macrophages. Because NOD/SCID mouse SIRPα is known to be capable of interacting with human CD47 (21), these results indicated that the protective effect of human CD47 expression is likely mediated through a SIRPα-related mechanism providing inhibitory signals to recipient macrophages. Further studies using SIRPα blockades or SIRPα-deficient recipients are needed to draw a conclusion.

We had previously reported that porcine hematopoietic chimerism can be established in triple porcine cytokine (IL-3, GM-CSF and SCF) transgenic NOD/SCID mice after administration of large numbers of porcine bone marrow cells (approximately 1×108 /mouse) and PBMCs (about 5×107 /mouse) (6). However, almost all surviving porcine cells in the long-term chimeric mice were found to be CD172a+ myeloid cells. Although the lack of porcine T and B cells in the chimeric mice could possibly be due to the inability of porcine lymphoid cell differentiation to occur in mice, this could also be a consequence of macrophage-mediated rejection, as porcine T and B cells have been shown to survive in macrophage-depleted mice (1). Support for the latter possibility is provided by studies using mouse bone marrow chimeras in which we recently observed that CD47 KO Mac-1+ myeloid cells are significantly more resistant to rejection by macrophages than lymphoid cells (23). In that study, mixed bone marrow chimeras were established by injection of CD47 KO bone marrow cells into sublethally irradiated wild-type mice after transient macrophage depletion. Although initial engraftment of CD47 KO cells was achieved in these mice, the levels of CD47 KO donor chimerism declined rapidly after transplantation. Of note, Mac-1+ CD47 KO cells were rejected at a significantly slower rate than CD47 KO lymphoid cells and remained detectable for approximately 30 weeks.

Genetic intervention has been shown promising in improving xenograft survival. The successful production of viable pigs with homozygous deletion of the α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene was an important advance in xenotransplantation (8,13,15). The use of organs from these pigs successfully avoided both hyperacute and acute humoral xenograft rejection without requiring complement inhibition or antibody absorption (14,27). The addition of thromboregulatory and anti-inflammatory genes to the α1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient background is expected to further prolong xenograft survival (18). Although studies in pig-to-primate transplant models are needed to reach a firm conclusion, the present study suggests that transgenic pigs expressing human CD47 could be advantageous as donors for clinical xenotransplantation. CD47-SIRPα signaling also plays an important role in the control of dendritic cell maturation and activation (4,23). Our recent studies demonstrated that CD47 expression on donor cells is required to repress recipient dendritic cell activation and suppress allograft rejection after donor-specific transfusion (25). Thus, it is possible that xenografts from human CD47 transgenic pigs may also have a reduced potency to stimulate adaptive xenoimmune responses, and this hypothesis merits further study.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Drs. Robert Hawley and Nalu Navarro-Alvarez for critical review of this manuscript and Ms. Shumei Wang for technical support. This work was supported by NIH grants (RO1 AI064569 and PO1 AI045897) and an AHA/NCRP Scientist Development Grant (0930361N).

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