Investigation of Blood Typing Method for Seoul National University Miniature Pig

Pig blood group antigens may be present on grafted tissue as 16 isoforms, including the major one, A substrance. Seoul National University (SNU) miniature pigs and domestic pigs were used in this study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the erythrocyte antigen A (EAA) gene, and reverse transcriptase-PCR for pig A transferase fucosyl transferase (FUT) 1 and FUT-2. The hemagglutination test was performed with murine monoclonal anti-A and anti-B antibodies (mAb), and immunohistochemistry with anti-human blood antigen mAb. SNU miniature and domestic pigs showed blood groups A and O. Blood group A SNU miniature pigs expressed either EAA^AA or EAA^AO and either S^SS or S^SO; blood group O miniature pigs expressed EAA^OO and S^SS or S^SO, and there was no A^weak. Additionally, blood group A could be divided into blood group A^clotting and blood group A^{not clotting} in hemagglutination tests. Pig A substance was expressed in the lung and kidney in blood group A pigs, but we could not detect pig A substance expression in the lung, kidney, and heart of blood group O pigs or the heart of blood group A pigs. In conclusion, we suggest that blood typing of SNU miniature pigs can be easily performed using immunohistochemistry, PCR, and/or RT-PCR. Molecular-based AO typing described in this study may be useful to select SNU miniature pigs bearing a specific blood group.