Download - Xenotransplantation
Samantha Pell
What is it?
The transplantation of cells, tissues or organs from one species to another
Three procedures make it upAnimal external therapies (AETs)Animal cell therapies (ACTs)Animal organ transplants (AOTs)
Genetic Modification
Pig is most common animal usedsize
Pigs become genetically modifiedHuman genes will be inserted into pigsCaused them to become transgenicOnly a small amount will express the gene
needed○ Others will be killed
Arguments in Favor Could save many lives No waiting around for suitable organs
Few people willing to donate Such rare situations allow use of organs
Some Asian countries look at human to human organ transplant as a taboo
Pigs for transplantation are bred and isolated in a controlled environment
Gets rid of black market sales of organs Puts an end to the ethical question “should donors be
compensated for use of their organs?” Possibility of treating diseases
diabetes
How will it treat diabetes? Primary cause is the destruction of cells
(islets) Research offers the chance of replacing
dead islets with living ones Pig islets most preferred for transplant Will restore insulin production Will provide ideal control of blood sugar
at all times
Arguments Against Led to a ban of research in many
European countries Animals would be sold rather than
donated Organ donations may stop altogether Transmission of diseases Greater risk of the spread of PERV Many animals will die Morality sacrifice
Rejection
Major obstacleCaused by immune system fighting back
against something foreign
Must be given drugs (immunosuppresent)Will cause immune system to shut downWill prevent possibility of rejectionWill leave patient more at risk for disease
Hyperacute Rejection
Tissue never becomes vascularized Preexisting host antibodies bind to
antigens in the graft endothelium Complement system activated Results in inflammation Graft suffers irreversible damage from
ischemia
Hyperacute Rejection
Healthy islets (center) surrounded by non-insulin producing pancreatic cells.
Hyperacute rejection in progress: Islets (center) are being filtrated as part of immune system attack.
Alternatives
The cause of organ failure and disease must be minimized
Better education on human organ donationIncreases availability of organsSafer, cheaper, more humane
Picture Website Links
http://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2004_Groups/Group04/Rejection_overview.htm
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/clockingin/pig.jpg
Bibliography Facts on Xenotransplantation. (1996, September 20). Retrieved May 5, 2009, from
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/transplant/html/fda.htm
Hyperacute Rejection. (n.d.). Transplant Rejection Therapy. Retrieved May 10, 2009, fromhttp://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2004_Groups/Group04/Rejection_overview.htm
Lanza, R. P., & Cooper, D. K. (n.d.). Xenotransplantation. Scientific American, 277(1), 54.
Retrieved from Science Reference Center database. Miller, G. W. (2005). The Xeno Chronicles. New York: Public Affairs.
Nicholson, M. (2000, November). Into. Retrieved May 10, 2009, fromhttp://cseserv.engr.scu.edu/nquinn/ENGR019_299Fall2000/StudentWebSites/Nicholson/ResearchPaper.htm
Tanne, J. H. (n.d.). Xenotransplantation: Huge Benefits, Hard Choices. Retrieved May 5, 2009,from http://www.columbia.edu/cu/21stC/issue-1.2/Xeno.htm
What is Xenotransplantation? (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2009, from
http://fbox.vt.edu/users/dhay/home.html
Van Eenennaam, A. L. (2008, March 13). Animal Biotechnology. Retrieved May 10, 2009, from http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/animalbiotech/Biotechnology/Transgenics/Pig/
index.htm Xenotransplantation. (n.d.). Animals Today, 12(2), 31. Retrieved from Science Reference Center
Database.