The Miniature Swine in Organ Transplantation: Promises and Impasses

Abstract

Cross-species transplantation, called xenotransplantation, appears as an alternative for clinical transplantation, given the increase demand and the shortage of human organ donors. The miniature pig, shares many anatomical and physiological similarities with humans, making it a potential source of suitable organs for xenotransplantation. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) genomes that can be transmitted to humans is, however, a concern. Thanks to gene-editing technologies, various pigs are currently available with a number of different manipulations that protect their tissues from the human immune response, resulting in increasing pig graft survival in nonhuman primate models. The first successful heart transplanted to a human from a genetically modified pig has been the subject of recent scientific and medical news. This milestone in organ transplantation offers hope for thousands in need of organs.

Clin Infect Immun. 2022;7(1):4-9
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cii149