Well, we have spoken about this a while back when we were discussing ethics in terms of Chimerism. Back then it still seemed a dream away, but now scientists have taken yet another leap and successfully harvested a kidney from a pig for use in the human body. What did they do? How did they do it? Why did they use pigs? What does it mean for science?
Pigs, which have anatomically similar organs to us humans, have been long sought after to resolve the problem of organ shortage. One major issue that scientists faced during this research was organ rejection. As you may know, our immune system has the ability to recognize protein complexes that are different from our own. If these are found in the body, the immune system launches an attack against it, to prevent invasion by foreign particles such as pathogens that can harm the body. In pigs, this protein is called alpha-gel and is the same protein that triggers allergic reactions to red meat. So what exactly does happen if we use a non-human organ in our body? Well, it immediately turns black and is rendered unusable by a process called hyperacute reaction.
But, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we have found a way past this issue, and while it is far from perfect, it is nonetheless, proof that we can move on to administer clinical trials and bring this process into the picture. Let's go back to genetic engineering. Scientists used this technique to edit out the gene for alpha-gel in the blood vessels of the pig used. They also attatched the pig's thymus gland, which is responsible for producing T-Lymphocytes- a type of white blood cell that detects antigens on pathogens, to improve the chances of acceptance. Immunosuppressants were also prescribed to the patient to prevent rejection. Within minutes to the end of the investigation, the kidney continued producing substantial quantities of urine and showed signs of regular functioning.
Unfortunately, based on ethical guidelines, the team had to terminate the rest of the procedure after 54 hours of the transplant. The transplant for this period was successful, as predicted, and displays high hopes for the future. However, with such procedures ethics play a large role in determining whether this treatment becomes the norm. You could check out the previous article on this subject by clicking here. Do let us know what you think of this advancement!
Article:
NYU Langone Health. Progress in xenotransplantation opens door to new supply of critically needed organs. Published online October 21, 2021.
Image:
https://singularityhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/pig-chimera-human-muscle.jpg
Comentários