Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

Recent advances in pig-to-human organ and cell transplantation.

Cooper DK, Ezzelarab M, Hara H, Ayares D

University of Pittsburgh, Thomas E Starzl Transplantation Institute, Starzl Biomedical Science Tower, W1543, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. cooperdk@upmc.edu

Xenotransplantation using pigs offers the prospect of an unlimited number of organs and cells for clinical transplantation. A major step forward has been achieved with the introduction of pigs homozygous for alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockouts that do not express the major antigenic target for primate antipig antibodies (i.e., Galalpha1,3Gal). Heterotopic heart transplants have survived for 2-6 months in baboons. However, other immune and pathophysiologic barriers remain, including: i) anti-non-Gal antibodies and cells of the innate immune system; and ii) thrombogenesis associated with incompatibilities in the coagulation-anticoagulation systems of pig and primate. Further genetic modification of the organ-source pig to overcome these barriers is being undertaken.

Published 17 December 2007 in Expert Opin Biol Ther, 8(1): 1-4.
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