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Xenotransplantation: animals as donors for human organs
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A xenotransplantation is a transplantation of animal organs or tissues into humans. The prefix ‘xeno’ comes from the Greek word ‘xenos’ which means ‘strange’. Xenotransplants usually lead to rejection of the foreign organ or tissue. To reduce that risk, scientists have tried to modify the genetic properties of animal organs. Successfully.
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The problem of repulsion
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Transplanting human organs is no easy task because the organs of another person look so different. The body’s own body can then attack or ‘reject’ the organ. When a pig organ is connected to blood vessels in a human, hyperacute rejection follows. Pig cells have a different chemical surface structure than that of human cells.
“The human immune system fights infections by distinguishing ‘foreign’ bacteria and viruses from healthy ‘own’ tissue,” says researcher Jayme Locke. “Another person’s organs look so different that anti-rejection drugs are needed to prevent attacks from one’s own body – so-called rejection. However, pig kidneys look so strange that anti-rejection drugs are not even sufficient. Therefore, certain genetic modifications are needed to make the pig organ more human-like.”
Also read: How does stem cell donation work?
Xenotransplantation: pig kidneys
Two genetically modified pig kidneys were transplanted into the abdomen of a brain-dead man after his own kidneys were removed. The pig kidneys were genetically modified through ten major gene operations. This made them more suitable for humans.
After the operation, the implanted pig kidneys appeared to function well. They filtered blood, produced urine and were not immediately rejected. The kidneys continued to function until the experiment was terminated 77 hours after transplantation.
According to the researchers, they thoroughly tested the transplant system: every step in the transplant process was simulated. Moreover, there was no transmission of diseases and endogenous retroviruses.
Advantage of xenotransplantation
Xenotransplantation could be a solution to the global donor shortage and the large waiting lists for organs. The study is already promising, but further research is needed. Among other things, it must be determined whether pig kidneys are also accepted by the body over a long period of time and do not damage the human immune system. To obtain more clarity, xenotransplantation must be tested in living people. “We have now been able to fill important knowledge gaps and collect data needed to initiate clinical trials in living people with kidney failure,” says Locke. “We think xenotransplantation could be widely available in the next 5 to 10 years.” Although this first requires approval from the competent authorities.
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Last updated: October 2023
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2023-10-26 22:03:38
#Xenotransplantation #animals #donors #human #organs #health.be
