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.