Westran — highly inbred pigs for xenotransplantation research
C. MoranCentre for Advanced Technologies in Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Email: Chris.Moran@vetsci.usyd.edu.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(8) 793-800 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05063
Submitted: 24 February 2005 Accepted: 22 March 2005 Published: 26 August 2005
Abstract
This paper reviews the history, breeding and biological characterisation of a highly inbred line of pigs, the Westran, developed by Westmead Hospital and the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Sydney, as an experimental large animal model for transplantation research. The review ranges from the historical origins of Westran pigs, from a pair of animals released on Kangaroo Island in 1803, to the context and relevance of the line in xenotransplantation (i.e. the transplantation of organs, tissues and cells across species boundaries).
Additional keywords: inbreeding, island population.
Acknowledgments
Development of the Westran inbred line of pigs has involved many collaborators over about 15 years. The inbred line was initiated and nurtured for many years by Richard Allen, now Professor of Transplantation Surgery, University of Sydney, originally with the assistance of Peter and Evelyn King at Karuah. Associate Professor Phillip O’Connell, Dr Wayne Hawthorne and Professor Jeremy Chapman, National Pancreas Transplant Unit, Westmead Hospital, have all played a major role in sustaining the line and evaluating it immunologically and as a transplant model. The work reviewed here has been supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (NHMRC 105704: Determining the potential for porcine foetal islet xenotransplantation; NHMRC/JDRF 219171: A preclinical model of pig islet xenotransplantation as treatment for type 1 diabetes; NHMRC 253837: Non immunological barriers to successful treatment of diabetes by xenotransplantation). I also thank my PhD students, Dr Jun-Heon Lee, Mr Denbigh Simond and Dr Jaime Gongora for their contributions to the knowledge and understanding of PERVs and genetics of Westran pigs. My colleagues Dr Kyu Il Kim, Cheju National University, South Korea, and Dr Yizhou Chen have contributed to the study of the origin and inbreeding in the Westran line and Dr Douglas Smith, Baylor College, Texas, was instrumental in the analysis of the MHC loci.
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