Gene editing brings pig organ transplant closer

Conclusion This promising research shows that it can be possible to use gene editing techniques to eliminate retroviruses from pigs, removing one of the potential barriers to using genetically modified pigs as organ donors for humans. There are a few points to note. As the researchers say, though they have shown that pig retroviruses can be passed onto human cells in the laboratory, we don't know what the effects would be in real life. We don't know whether pig retroviruses would be transferred to humans and whether they could cause cancers or immunodeficiency illnesses, for example. The research is at an early stage. The study has shown that they can produce retrovirus-free piglets but moving onto pig organ donation is another step. While some pig tissues have been in medical use for decades, such as pig heart valves and insulin, there are likely to be various practical, ethical and safety steps to overcome when it comes to transplanting whole large animal organs into humans. A number of experts responded to the news – highlighting both the positives and negatives. Prof Darren Griffin, Professor of Genetics, University of Kent, says: "This represents a significant step forward towards the possibility of making xenotransplantation a reality," while Prof Ian McConnell, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Science, University of Cambridge, cautions: "[Organ transplant] is a huge unmet need of modern medicine. But the use of animal organs such as pig kidneys and he...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Genetics/stem cells Source Type: news