Xenotransplantation

By: Marshall Lenko

What is Xenotransplantation?What is Xenotransplantation?

The transfer of living cells, tissues, or The transfer of living cells, tissues, or organs from non-human animals species organs from non-human animals species into humans.into humans.

Can be human to non-human animals or Can be human to non-human animals or between any 2 species.between any 2 species.

Examples of XenotransplantationExamples of Xenotransplantation

Combining parts of different species dates Combining parts of different species dates back to Greek lore of 3000 years ago in back to Greek lore of 3000 years ago in the forms of centaurs (half man half horse) the forms of centaurs (half man half horse) and the chimera (a mixture of goat, lion, and the chimera (a mixture of goat, lion, and serpent).and serpent).

Modern Day Examples of Modern Day Examples of XenotransplantationXenotransplantation

In 1682 a Russian physician repaired a In 1682 a Russian physician repaired a man’s skull with the bone of a dog.man’s skull with the bone of a dog.

In 1905 a French surgeon used slices of In 1905 a French surgeon used slices of rabbit kidney to treat a child suffering from rabbit kidney to treat a child suffering from kidney failure, this was the first time kidney failure, this was the first time doctors had grafted tissues from animals doctors had grafted tissues from animals to humans.to humans.

Modern Day Examples of Modern Day Examples of Xenotransplantation (contd.)Xenotransplantation (contd.)

December 14December 14thth 1995 a baboon’s bone 1995 a baboon’s bone marrow is transplanted into a man to help marrow is transplanted into a man to help with his HIV.with his HIV.

Fetal calf adrenal cells are implanted in Fetal calf adrenal cells are implanted in the spinal cord space of a woman for pain the spinal cord space of a woman for pain relief in end stage cancer.relief in end stage cancer.

Pig pancreatic islet cells are implanted for Pig pancreatic islet cells are implanted for treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.mellitus.

Potential RisksPotential Risks

Zoonoses are diseases from animals that Zoonoses are diseases from animals that can be transmitted to humans under can be transmitted to humans under natural conditions.natural conditions.

A xenogenic infection is a transmissible A xenogenic infection is a transmissible disease introduced from animals into disease introduced from animals into humans.humans.

A virus that does not cause disease in its A virus that does not cause disease in its animal host may cause a serious disease animal host may cause a serious disease or even death in a human.or even death in a human.

Potential Risks (contd.)Potential Risks (contd.)

Many failures of xenotransplantation are Many failures of xenotransplantation are caused by the constant destruction of caused by the constant destruction of animal organs by a human’s immune animal organs by a human’s immune system.system.

Researchers reported that pig retroviruses Researchers reported that pig retroviruses can multiply in the human kidneys.can multiply in the human kidneys.

Viruses that can hide themselves for years Viruses that can hide themselves for years until it is too late to be cured can develope.until it is too late to be cured can develope.

Reasons ForReasons For

There is a worldwide shortage of organs There is a worldwide shortage of organs for transplantation.for transplantation.

Between 1990 and 1995 an average of Between 1990 and 1995 an average of 4835 people each year donated organs 4835 people each year donated organs after death.after death.

~48,000 people are on the waiting list for ~48,000 people are on the waiting list for organs.organs.

~3000 people die each year because ~3000 people die each year because organ donors can’t be found in time.organ donors can’t be found in time.

Reasons For (contd.)Reasons For (contd.) Cellular transplants could provide treatment for Cellular transplants could provide treatment for

people with diabetes, Alzheimer’s and people with diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.Parkinson’s.

Tissue transplants could include skin grafts for Tissue transplants could include skin grafts for burn victims, corneal transplants for the virtually burn victims, corneal transplants for the virtually impaired, and bone transplants for impaired, and bone transplants for reconstructing limbs.reconstructing limbs.

Organ transplants could include whole hearts, Organ transplants could include whole hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, or pancreases.lungs, livers, kidneys, or pancreases.

Protecting the General PublicProtecting the General Public To guard against potential animal to To guard against potential animal to

human infection there are 4 major areas human infection there are 4 major areas that are recommended as guidelines.that are recommended as guidelines.

““Procedures must be developed in order to Procedures must be developed in order to screen source animals for presence of screen source animals for presence of infectious organisms.”infectious organisms.”

““Continued surveillance of patients and Continued surveillance of patients and periodic surveillances of their families, periodic surveillances of their families, health care worker, and others to check for health care worker, and others to check for evidence of infectious disease.”evidence of infectious disease.”

“ “ An establishment of tissue banks An establishment of tissue banks containing tissue and blood samples from containing tissue and blood samples from source animals and patients should be source animals and patients should be created.”created.”

“ “ There should be an establishment of There should be an establishment of national and local registries of patients that national and local registries of patients that have received xenotransplants.”have received xenotransplants.”

Picture ReferencesPicture References http://immunologybmed19005.files.wordpress.com/2009/http://immunologybmed19005.files.wordpress.com/2009/

08/transplant_monkey008.jpg08/transplant_monkey008.jpg http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/10500/Centaur-Arhttp://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/10500/Centaur-Ar

nold--10853.jpgnold--10853.jpg http://www.virtualworldlets.net/Resources/Hosted/Chimerhttp://www.virtualworldlets.net/Resources/Hosted/Chimer

a/chimeracol.jpga/chimeracol.jpg http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/

uncategorized/2007/04/13/xenotransplant2.jpguncategorized/2007/04/13/xenotransplant2.jpg

Works CitedWorks Cited XenotransplantationXenotransplantation. Retrieved November 28. Retrieved November 28thth 2009 from 2009 from

http://www.hc0sc.gc.ca/sr-sr/biotech/about-apropos/xeno-eng.phphttp://www.hc0sc.gc.ca/sr-sr/biotech/about-apropos/xeno-eng.php Fact Sheet on XenotransplantationFact Sheet on Xenotransplantation. Retrieved November 30. Retrieved November 30thth 2009 2009

from http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/transplant/html/fda.htmfrom http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/transplant/html/fda.htm XenotransplantationXenotransplantation. Retrieved November 30. Retrieved November 30thth 2009 from 2009 from

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f01/web2/aryoni.htmlhttp://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f01/web2/aryoni.html Ethics of Neural XenotransplantationEthics of Neural Xenotransplantation. Retrieved November 30. Retrieved November 30thth

2009 from 2009 from http://biomed.brown.edu/courses/BI108/BI108_1999_Groups/Neurothttp://biomed.brown.edu/courses/BI108/BI108_1999_Groups/Neurotransplant_Team/Ethics/ethics.htmlransplant_Team/Ethics/ethics.html

The Disadvantages of XenotransplantationThe Disadvantages of Xenotransplantation. Retrieved November . Retrieved November 3030thth 2009 from http://fbox.vt.edu/users/dhay/disadvantages.html 2009 from http://fbox.vt.edu/users/dhay/disadvantages.html