Xenograft Rejection: Immunology and Recently Developed Methods of Solution
Žilvinas Chomanskis, Vaiva Hendrixson
Xenotransplantation (from other animal to human) holds a great promise to end the most pronounced problem in allogeneic transplantation (from human-to- human) - shortage of organs. Until present days xenotransplantation was derailed off any possibility of clinical trials by the intricate barriers created by the immune and coagulation systems. Xenotransplantation could offer a perspective, when cells, tissues or whole animal organs will be successfully transfered to the recipient - man. Clinical trials of pancreatic islet cells xenoimplantation might be started in the next 5 years period and if last problems concerning whole organ xenotransplantation are solved we might expect the first clinical trials of whole organ xenotransplantation to happen soon following long years of prohibition.
This article reviews complex molecular compatibility nuances of the immune and coagulation systems between human and pig. We also put some light onto various achievements that led to enormous spurt in survival of xenografts from just a few minutes 15 years ago to few months. Awaiting results with double, triple or even quadruple transgenic pigs are highly expected to increase xenograft survival even further.
Keywords: xenotransplantation, hyperacute rejection, GTKO pigs.
