Association of the 5′ HS4 sequence of the chicken β‐globin locus control region with human EF1α gene promoter induces ubiquitous and high expression of human CD55 and CD59 cDNAs in transgenic rabbits

Whatever its field of application, animal transgenesis aims at a high level of reproducible and stable transgene expression. In the case of xenotransplantation, prevention of hyperacute rejection of grafts of animal origin requires the use of organs expressing human inhibitors of complement activation such as CD55 (DAF) and CD59. Pigs transgenic for these molecules have been produced, but with low and variable levels of expression. In order to improve cDNA expression, a vector containing the 5′HS4 region from the LCR of the chicken β‐globin locus and the promoter and the first intron from the human EF1α gene, was used to co‐express human CD55 and CD59 cDNAs in transgenic rabbits. The transgenic lines with the 5′HS4 region displayed dramatically enhanced CD55 and CD59 mRNA concentrations in brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, spleen and aortic endothelial cells in comparison with the transgenic lines without the 5′HS4 region. In the absence of the 5′HS4 region, only some of the transgenic lines displayed specific mRNAs and at low levels. Human CD55 and CD59 proteins were detectable in mononuclear cells from transgenic rabbits although at a lower level than in human mononuclear cells. On the other hand, primary aortic endothelial cells from a bi‐transgenic line were very efficiently protected in vitro against human complement‐dependent lysis. Transgenic rabbits harbouring the two human inhibitors of complement activation, CD55 and CD59, can therefore be used as new models in xenotransplantation. Moreover, the vector containing the 5′HS4 region from the LCR of the chicken β‐globin locus seems appropriate not only for xenotransplantation but also for any other studies involving transgenic animals in which cDNAs have to be expressed at a high level in all cell types.