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Hurst DJ, Padilla L, Merlocco A, Rodger D, Bobier C, Gray WH, Sorabella R, Cooper DKC, Pierson RN. Pediatric Cardiac Xenotransplantation: Recommendations for the Ethical Design of Clinical Trials. Transplantation 2024; 108:e292-e300. [PMID: 38419158 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
For children with complex congenital heart problems, cardiac allotransplantation is sometimes the best therapeutic option. However, availability of hearts for pediatric patients is limited, resulting in a long and growing waitlist, and a high mortality rate while waiting. Cardiac xenotransplantation has been proposed as one therapeutic alternative for neonates and infants, either in lieu of allotransplantation or as a bridge until an allograft becomes available. Scientific and clinical developments in xenotransplantation appear likely to permit cardiac xenotransplantation clinical trials in adults in the coming years. The ethical issues around xenotransplantation of the heart and other organs and tissues have recently been examined, but to date, only limited literature is available on the ethical issues that are attendant with pediatric heart xenotransplantation. Here, we summarize the ethical issues, focusing on (1) whether cardiac xenotransplantation should proceed in adults or children first, (2) pediatric recipient selection for initial xenotransplantation trials, (3) special problems regarding informed consent in this context, and (4) related psychosocial and public perception considerations. We conclude with specific recommendations regarding ethically informed design of pediatric heart xenotransplantation trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Hurst
- Department of Family Medicine, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ
| | - Luz Padilla
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Anthony Merlocco
- Department of Cardiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Daniel Rodger
- Institute of Health and Social Care, School of Allied and Community Health, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Bobier
- Department of Theology and Philosophy, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona, MN
| | - William H Gray
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Robert Sorabella
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - David K C Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MN
| | - Richard N Pierson
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MN
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Saito S, Miyagawa S, Kawamura T, Yoshioka D, Kawamura M, Kawamura A, Misumi Y, Taguchi T, Yamauchi T, Miyagawa S. How should cardiac xenotransplantation be initiated in Japan? Surg Today 2024; 54:829-838. [PMID: 38733536 PMCID: PMC11266268 DOI: 10.1007/s00595-024-02861-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
The world's first clinical cardiac xenotransplantation, using a genetically engineered pig heart with 10 gene modifications, prolonged the life of a 57-year-old man with no other life-saving options, by 60 days. It is foreseeable that xenotransplantation will be introduced in clinical practice in the United States. However, little clinical or regulatory progress has been made in the field of xenotransplantation in Japan in recent years. Japan seems to be heading toward a "device lag", and the over-importation of medical devices and technology in the medical field is becoming problematic. In this review, we discuss the concept of pig-heart xenotransplantation, including the pathobiological aspects related to immune rejection, coagulation dysregulation, and detrimental heart overgrowth, as well as genetic modification strategies in pigs to prevent or minimize these problems. Moreover, we summarize the necessity for and current status of xenotransplantation worldwide, and future prospects in Japan, with the aim of initiating xenotransplantation in Japan using genetically modified pigs without a global delay. It is imperative that this study prompts the initiation of preclinical xenotransplantation research using non-human primates and leads to clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Saito
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Shuji Miyagawa
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takuji Kawamura
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yoshioka
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masashi Kawamura
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ai Kawamura
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yusuke Misumi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | | | - Takashi Yamauchi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shigeru Miyagawa
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
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Cooper DKC, Mou L, Bottino R. A brief review of the current status of pig islet xenotransplantation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1366530. [PMID: 38464515 PMCID: PMC10920266 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1366530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
An estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer from Type I diabetes mellitus, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Islet allotransplantation offers a treatment, but the availability of deceased human donor pancreases is limited. The transplantation of islets from gene-edited pigs, if successful, would resolve this problem. Pigs are now available in which the expression of the three known xenoantigens against which humans have natural (preformed) antibodies has been deleted, and in which several human 'protective' genes have been introduced. The transplantation of neonatal pig islets has some advantages over that of adult pig islets. Transplantation into the portal vein of the recipient results in loss of many islets from the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) and so the search for an alternative site continues. The adaptive immune response can be largely suppressed by an immunosuppressive regimen based on blockade of the CD40/CD154 T cell co-stimulation pathway, whereas conventional therapy (e.g., based on tacrolimus) is less successful. We suggest that, despite the need for effective immunosuppressive therapy, the transplantation of 'free' islets will prove more successful than that of encapsulated islets. There are data to suggest that, in the absence of rejection, the function of pig islets, though less efficient than human islets, will be sufficient to maintain normoglycemia in diabetic recipients. Pig islets transplanted into immunosuppressed nonhuman primates have maintained normoglycemia for periods extending more than two years, illustrating the potential of this novel form of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K. C. Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lisha Mou
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- MetaLife Center, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Rita Bottino
- Imagine Islet Center, Imagine Pharma, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Konstantinov IE, Cooper DKC, Adachi I, Bacha E, Bleiweis MS, Chinnock R, Cleveland D, Cowan PJ, Fynn-Thompson F, Morales DLS, Mohiuddin MM, Reichart B, Rothblatt M, Roy N, Turek JW, Urschel S, West L, Wolf E. Consensus statement on heart xenotransplantation in children: Toward clinical translation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2023; 166:960-967. [PMID: 36184321 PMCID: PMC10124772 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Igor E Konstantinov
- Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne Centre for Cardiovascular Genomics and Regenerative Medicine, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - David K C Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Iki Adachi
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
| | - Emile Bacha
- Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York, NY
| | | | | | - David Cleveland
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Ala
| | - Peter J Cowan
- Immunology Research Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - David L S Morales
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Muhammad M Mohiuddin
- Program in Cardiac Xenotransplantation, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Bruno Reichart
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Nathalie Roy
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Joseph W Turek
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Simon Urschel
- Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation Program, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lori West
- Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation Program, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Alberta Transplant Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
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Chornenkyy Y, Yamamoto T, Hara H, Stowell SR, Ghiran I, Robson SC, Cooper DKC. Future prospects for the clinical transfusion of pig red blood cells. Blood Rev 2023; 61:101113. [PMID: 37474379 PMCID: PMC10968389 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Transfusion of allogeneic human red blood cell (hRBCs) is limited by supply and compatibility between individual donors and recipients. In situations where the blood supply is constrained or when no compatible RBCs are available, patients suffer. As a result, alternatives to hRBCs that complement existing RBC transfusion strategies are needed. Pig RBCs (pRBCs) could provide an alternative because of their abundant supply, and functional similarities to hRBCs. The ability to genetically modify pigs to limit pRBC immunogenicity and augment expression of human 'protective' proteins has provided major boosts to this research and opens up new therapeutic avenues. Although deletion of expression of xenoantigens has been achieved in genetically-engineered pigs, novel genetic methods are needed to introduce human 'protective' transgenes into pRBCs at the high levels required to prevent hemolysis and extend RBC survival in vivo. This review addresses recent progress and examines future prospects for clinical xenogeneic pRBC transfusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevgen Chornenkyy
- Department of Pathology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Takayuki Yamamoto
- Center for Transplantation Science, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Sean R Stowell
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ionita Ghiran
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Simon C Robson
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David K C Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Science, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Hara H, Yamamoto T, Wei HJ, Cooper DK. What Have We Learned From In Vitro Studies About Pig-to-primate Organ Transplantation? Transplantation 2023; 107:1265-1277. [PMID: 36536507 PMCID: PMC10205677 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Natural preformed and de novo antibodies against pig antigens are a major cause of pig xenograft rejection in nonhuman primates (NHPs). In vivo studies in pig-to-NHP models are time consuming. In vitro assays, for example, antibody binding to pig cells, complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays, provide valuable information quickly and inexpensively. Using in vitro assays for several years, it has been documented that (1) during the first year of life, humans and NHPs develop anti-wild-type pig antibodies, but humans develop no or minimal antibody to triple-knockout (TKO) pig cells. (2) Some adult humans have no or minimal antibodies to TKO pig cells and are therefore unlikely to rapidly reject a TKO organ, particularly if the organ also expresses human "protective" proteins. (3) There is good correlation between immunoglobulin (Ig)M (but no t IgG) binding and complement injury. (4) All Old World NHPs develop antibodies to TKO pig cells and are not optimal recipients of TKO organs. (5) galactosyltransferase gene-knockout/β4GalNT2KO pigs are preferred for Old World NHPs. (6) Humans develop anti-pig IgE and IgA antibodies against pig cells, but their role remains uncertain. (7) In a small percentage of allosensitized humans, antibodies that cross-react with swine leukocyte antigens may be detrimental to a pig organ xenograft. (8) Prior sensitization to pig antigens is unlikely to be detrimental to a subsequent allograft. (9) Deletion of expression of Gal and Neu5Gc is associated with a reduction in the T-cell response to pig cells. All of these valuable observations have largely predicted the results of in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetaka Hara
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Takayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Surgery, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Hong-Jiang Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - David K.C. Cooper
- Department of Surgery, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Parker LE, Kurzlechner LM, Landstrom AP. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Modeling of Single-Ventricle Congenital Heart Diseases. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:295-305. [PMID: 36930454 PMCID: PMC10726018 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01852-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Congenital heart disease includes a wide variety of structural cardiac defects, the most severe of which are single ventricle defects (SVD). These patients suffer from significant morbidity and mortality; however, our understanding of the developmental etiology of these conditions is limited. Model organisms offer a window into normal and abnormal cardiogenesis yet often fail to recapitulate complex congenital heart defects seen in patients. The use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with single-ventricle defects opens the door to studying SVD in patient-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) in a variety of different contexts, including organoids and chamber-specific cardiomyocytes. As the genetic and cellular causes of SVD are not well defined, patient-derived iPSC-CMs hold promise for uncovering mechanisms of disease development and serve as a platform for testing therapies. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent advances in iPSC-based models of SVD. RECENT FINDINGS Recent advances in patient-derived iPSC-CM differentiation, as well as the development of both chamber-specific and non-myocyte cardiac cell types, make it possible to model the complex genetic and molecular architecture involved in SVD development. Moreover, iPSC models have become increasingly complex with the generation of 3D organoids and engineered cardiac tissues which open the door to new mechanistic insight into SVD development. Finally, iPSC-CMs have been used in proof-of-concept studies that the molecular underpinnings of SVD may be targetable for future therapies. While each platform has its advantages and disadvantages, the use of patient-derived iPSC-CMs offers a window into patient-specific cardiogenesis and SVD development. Advancement in stem-cell based modeling of SVD promises to revolutionize our understanding of the developmental etiology of SVD and provides a tool for developing and testing new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Parker
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Leonie M Kurzlechner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrew P Landstrom
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke University Medical Center, Box 2652, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
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Cooper DKC, Pierson RN. Milestones on the path to clinical pig organ xenotransplantation. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:326-335. [PMID: 36775767 PMCID: PMC10127379 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2022.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Progress in pig organ xenotransplantation has been made largely through (1) genetic engineering of the organ-source pig to protect its tissues from the human innate immune response, and (2) development of an immunosuppressive regimen based on blockade of the CD40/CD154 costimulation pathway to prevent the adaptive immune response. In the 1980s, after transplantation into nonhuman primates (NHPs), wild-type (genetically unmodified) pig organs were rejected within minutes or hours. In the 1990s, organs from pigs expressing a human complement-regulatory protein (CD55) transplanted into NHPs receiving intensive conventional immunosuppressive therapy functioned for days or weeks. When costimulation blockade was introduced in 2000, the adaptive immune response was suppressed more readily. The identification of galactose-α1,3-galactose as the major antigen target for human and NHP anti-pig antibodies in 1991 allowed for deletion of expression of galactose-α1,3-galactose in 2003, extending pig graft survival for up to 6 months. Subsequent gene editing to overcome molecular incompatibilities between the pig and primate coagulation systems proved additionally beneficial. The identification of 2 further pig carbohydrate xenoantigens allowed the production of 'triple-knockout' pigs that are preferred for clinical organ transplantation. These combined advances enabled the first clinical pig heart transplant to be performed and opened the door to formal clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Richard N Pierson
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Reichart B, Cooper DKC, Längin M, Tönjes RR, Pierson RN, Wolf E. Cardiac xenotransplantation: from concept to clinic. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 118:3499-3516. [PMID: 36461918 PMCID: PMC9897693 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
For many patients with terminal/advanced cardiac failure, heart transplantation is the most effective, durable treatment option, and offers the best prospects for a high quality of life. The number of potentially life-saving donated human organs is far fewer than the population who could benefit from a new heart, resulting in increasing numbers of patients awaiting replacement of their failing heart, high waitlist mortality, and frequent reliance on interim mechanical support for many of those deemed among the best candidates but who are deteriorating as they wait. Currently, mechanical assist devices supporting left ventricular or biventricular heart function are the only alternative to heart transplant that is in clinical use. Unfortunately, the complication rate with mechanical assistance remains high despite advances in device design and patient selection and management, and the quality of life of the patients even with good outcomes is only moderately improved. Cardiac xenotransplantation from genetically multi-modified (GM) organ-source pigs is an emerging new option as demonstrated by the consistent long-term success of heterotopic (non-life-supporting) abdominal and life-supporting orthotopic porcine heart transplantation in baboons, and by a recent 'compassionate use' transplant of the heart from a GM pig with 10 modifications into a terminally ill patient who survived for 2 months. In this review, we discuss pig heart xenotransplantation as a concept, including pathobiological aspects related to immune rejection, coagulation dysregulation, and detrimental overgrowth of the heart, as well as GM strategies in pigs to prevent or minimize these problems. Additional topics discussed include relevant results of heterotopic and orthotopic heart transplantation experiments in the pig-to-baboon model, microbiological and virologic safety concepts, and efficacy requirements for initiating formal clinical trials. An adequate regulatory and ethical framework as well as stringent criteria for the selection of patients will be critical for the safe clinical development of cardiac xenotransplantation, which we expect will be clinically tested during the next few years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Reichart
- Walter Brendel Centre for Experimental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - David K C Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Matthias Längin
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Ralf R Tönjes
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen 63225, Germany
| | - Richard N Pierson
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Centre and Centre for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
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Oscherwitz M, Nguyen HQ, Raza SS, Cleveland DC, Padilla LA, Sorabella RA, Ayares D, Maxwell K, Rhodes LA, Cooper DKC, Hara H. Will previous palliative surgery for congenital heart disease be detrimental to subsequent pig heart xenotransplantation? Transpl Immunol 2022; 74:101661. [PMID: 35787933 PMCID: PMC9762890 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2022.101661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pig heart xenotransplantation might act as a bridge in infants with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) until a deceased human donor heart becomes available. Infants develop antibodies to wild-type (WT, i.e., genetically-unmodified) pig cells, but rarely to cells in which expression of the 3 known carbohydrate xenoantigens has been deleted by genetic engineering (triple-knockout [TKO] pigs). Our objective was to test sera from children who had undergone palliative surgery for complex CHD (and who potentially might need a pig heart transplant) to determine whether they had serum cytotoxic antibodies against TKO pig cells. METHODS Sera were obtained from children with CHD undergoing Glenn or Fontan operation (n = 14) and healthy adults (n = 8, as controls). All of the children had complex CHD and had undergone some form of cardiac surgery. Seven had received human blood transfusions and 3 bovine pericardial patch grafts. IgM and IgG binding to WT and TKO pig red blood cells (RBCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by flow cytometry, and killing of PBMCs by a complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS Almost all children and adults demonstrated relatively high IgM/IgG binding to WT RBCs, but minimal binding to TKO RBCs (p < 0.0001 vs WT), although IgG binding was greater in children than adults (p < 0.01). All sera showed IgM/IgG binding to WT PBMCs, but this was much lower to TKO PBMCs (p < 0.0001 vs WT) and was greater in children than in adults (p < 0.05). Binding to both WT and TKO PBMCs was greater than to RBCs. Mean serum cytotoxicity to WT PBMCs was 90% in both children and adults, whereas to TKO PBMCs it was only 20% and < 5%, respectively. The sera from 6/14 (43%) children were cytotoxic to TKO PBMCs, but no adult sera were cytotoxic. CONCLUSIONS Although no children had high levels of antibodies to TKO RBCs, 13/14 demonstrated antibodies to TKO PBMCs, in 6 of these showed mild cytotoxicity. As no adults had cytotoxic antibodies to TKO PBMCs, the higher incidence in children may possibly be associated with their exposure to previous cardiac surgery and biological products. However, the numbers were too small to determine the influence of such past exposures. Before considering pig heart xenotransplantation for children with CHD, testing for antibody binding may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Oscherwitz
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Huy Quoc Nguyen
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Syed Sikandar Raza
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David C Cleveland
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Luz A Padilla
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert A Sorabella
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Kathryn Maxwell
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Leslie A Rhodes
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Division of Critical Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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11
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Raza SS, Hara H, Cleveland DC, Cooper DKC. The potential of genetically engineered pig heart transplantation in infants with complex congenital heart disease. Pediatr Transplant 2022; 26:e14260. [PMID: 35233893 PMCID: PMC10124767 DOI: 10.1111/petr.14260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in surgical and medical techniques, complex congenital heart disease in neonates and infants continues to be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. More than 500 infants in the USA are placed on the cardiac transplantation wait-list annually. However, there remains a critical shortage of deceased human donor organs for transplantation with a median wait-time of 4 months. Hence, infant mortality on the heart transplant wait-list in the USA is higher than for any other solid organ transplant group. Orthotopic transplantation of a pig heart as a bridge to allotransplantation might offer the best prospect of long-term survival of these patients. In recent years, there have been several advances in genetic engineering of pigs to mitigate the vigorous antibody-mediated rejection of a pig heart transplanted into a nonhuman primate. In this review, we briefly highlight (i) the history of clinical heart xenotransplantation, (ii) current advances and techniques of genetically engineering pigs, (iii) the current status of pig orthotopic cardiac graft survival in nonhuman primates, and (iv) progress toward pursuing clinical trials of cardiac xenotransplantation. Ultimately, we argue that pig heart xenotransplantation should initially be used as a bridge to cardiac allotransplantation in neonates and infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Sikandar Raza
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - David C Cleveland
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Li T, Feng H, Du J, Xia Q, Cooper DKC, Jiang H, He S, Pan D, Chen G, Wang Y. Serum Antibody Binding and Cytotoxicity to Pig Cells in Chinese Subjects: Relevance to Clinical Renal Xenotransplantation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:844632. [PMID: 35418974 PMCID: PMC8996717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidney xenotransplantation is expected to contribute to resolving the shortage of kidneys from deceased human donors. Although progress in experimental life-supporting pig renal xenotransplantation has been encouraging, there are still issues to be considered before a clinical trial can be initiated. We attempted to clarify some of these by an in vitro study. Blood was drawn from healthy volunteers (Volunteers, n=20), patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD, n=20) pre-operation (Pre), and on Day 1 (POD 1) and Day 14 (POD 14) after renal allotransplantation, brain-dead organ donors (DBD, n=20), and renal allotransplant recipients who were currently experiencing T cell-mediated rejection (Allo-TCMR, n=20). Serum IgM/IgG binding to, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) of, PBMCs and RBCs from (a) wild-type (WT), (b) α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout (GTKO), (c) GTKO/beta-1,4-N-acety1 galactosaminyltransferase 2-knockout (GTKO/β4GalNT2KO), (d) GTKO/cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase-knockout (GTKO/CMAHKO), and (e) GTKO/β4GalNT2KO/CMAHKO/hCD55 (TKO/hCD55) pigs were measured by flow cytometry. We obtained the following results: (i) Serum IgM/IgG binding and CDC in Volunteers were significantly greater to WT, GTKO, and GTKO/β4GalNT2KO PBMCs or RBCs than to GTKO/CMAHKO and TKO/hCD55 cells; (ii) ESRD, DBD, and Allo-TCMR serum antibody binding and CDC to WT pig PBMCs were significantly greater than to GTKO, GTKO/β4GalNT2KO, GTKO/CMAHKO, and TKO/hCD55 cells; (iii) antibody binding to GTKO/CMAHKO pig cells was significantly lower in hemodialysis than peritoneal dialysis patients. (iv) Two of twenty allotransplantation recipients' serum IgG binding to GTKO pig PBMCs increased on POD14 compared with Pre, but IgG binding to GTKO pig RBCs did not; (v) In all sera, the lowest antibody binding and CDC were to GTKO/CMAHKO and TKO/CD55 pig cells. We conclude (i) CMAHKO in the pig may be critical to the success of clinical pig kidney xenotransplantation, and may be the most important after GTKO, at least in Chinese patients; (ii) subjects with ESRD, or who are immunosuppressed after kidney allotransplantation, and DBD, have lower levels of antibody binding and CDC to genetically-engineered pig cells than do volunteers; (iii) TKO pigs with selected human 'protective' transgenes, e.g., CD55, are likely to prove to be the optimal sources of kidneys for clinical xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, The Transplantation Institute of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Hao Feng
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and National Health Commission (NHC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaxiang Du
- Genetic Engineering Department, Chengdu Clonorgan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Qiangbing Xia
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and National Health Commission (NHC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - David K. C. Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hongtao Jiang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, The Transplantation Institute of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Songzhe He
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, The Transplantation Institute of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Dengke Pan
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Yi Wang, ; Gang Chen, ; Dengke Pan,
| | - Gang Chen
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and National Health Commission (NHC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yi Wang, ; Gang Chen, ; Dengke Pan,
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, The Transplantation Institute of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Department of Urology, Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
- *Correspondence: Yi Wang, ; Gang Chen, ; Dengke Pan,
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13
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Cooper DKC, Hara H. "You cannot stay in the laboratory forever"*: Taking pig kidney xenotransplantation from the laboratory to the clinic. EBioMedicine 2021; 71:103562. [PMID: 34517284 PMCID: PMC8441149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Progress in life-supporting kidney transplantation in the genetically-engineered pig-to-nonhuman primate model has been encouraging, with pig kidneys sometimes supporting life for > 1 year. What steps need to be taken by (i) the laboratory team, and (ii) the clinical team to prepare for the first clinical trial? The major topics include (i) what currently-available genetic modifications are optimal to reduce the possibility of graft rejection, (ii) what immunosuppressive therapeutic regimen is optimal, and (iii) what steps need to be taken to minimize the risk of transfer of an infectious microorganism with the graft. We suggest that patients who are unlikely to live long enough to receive a kidney from a deceased human donor would benefit from the opportunity of a period of dialysis-free support by a pig kidney, and the experience gained would enable xenotransplantation to progress much more rapidly than if we remain in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 752 Lyons-Harrison Research Building, 701 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 752 Lyons-Harrison Research Building, 701 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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14
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Bikhet M, Iwase H, Yamamoto T, Jagdale A, Foote JB, Ezzelarab M, Anderson DJ, Locke JE, Eckhoff DE, Hara H, Cooper DKC. What Therapeutic Regimen Will Be Optimal for Initial Clinical Trials of Pig Organ Transplantation? Transplantation 2021; 105:1143-1155. [PMID: 33534529 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We discuss what therapeutic regimen might be acceptable/successful in the first clinical trial of genetically engineered pig kidney or heart transplantation. As regimens based on a calcineurin inhibitor or CTLA4-Ig have proved unsuccessful, the regimen we administer to baboons is based on induction therapy with antithymocyte globulin, an anti-CD20 mAb (Rituximab), and cobra venom factor, with maintenance therapy based on blockade of the CD40/CD154 costimulation pathway (with an anti-CD40 mAb), with rapamycin, and a corticosteroid. An anti-inflammatory agent (etanercept) is administered for the first 2 wk, and adjuvant therapy includes prophylaxis against thrombotic complications, anemia, cytomegalovirus, and pneumocystis. Using this regimen, although antibody-mediated rejection certainly can occur, we have documented no definite evidence of an adaptive immune response to the pig xenograft. This regimen could also form the basis for the first clinical trial, except that cobra venom factor will be replaced by a clinically approved agent, for example, a C1-esterase inhibitor. However, none of the agents that block the CD40/CD154 pathway are yet approved for clinical use, and so this hurdle remains to be overcome. The role of anti-inflammatory agents remains unproven. The major difference between this suggested regimen and those used in allotransplantation is the replacement of a calcineurin inhibitor with a costimulation blockade agent, but this does not appear to increase the complications of the regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Bikhet
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Takayuki Yamamoto
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Abhijit Jagdale
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jeremy B Foote
- Department of Microbiology and Animal Resources Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Mohamed Ezzelarab
- Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Douglas J Anderson
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jayme E Locke
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Devin E Eckhoff
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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15
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Cleveland DC, Jagdale A, Carlo WF, Iwase H, Crawford J, Walcott GP, Dabal RJ, Sorabella RA, Rhodes L, Timpa J, Litovsky S, O'Meara C, Padilla LA, Foote J, Mauchley D, Bikhet M, Ayares D, Yamamoto T, Hara H, Cooper DK. The Genetically Engineered Heart as a Bridge to Allotransplantation in Infants Just Around the Corner? Ann Thorac Surg 2021; 114:536-544. [PMID: 34097894 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mortality for infants on the heart transplant wait list remains unacceptably high, and available mechanical circulatory support is suboptimal. Our goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing genetically engineered pig (GEP) heart as a bridge to allotransplantation by transplantation of a GEP heart in a baboon. METHODS Four baboons underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation from GEP donors. All donor pigs had galactosyl-1,3-galactose knocked out. Two donor pigs had human complement regulatory CD55 transgene and the other 2 had human complement regulatory CD46 and thrombomodulin. Induction immunosuppression included thymoglobulin, and Anti-CD20. Maintenance immunosuppression was Rapamycin, AntiCD-40 and methylprednisolone. One donor heart was preserved with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and the other three with del Nido solution. RESULTS All baboons weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. B217 received a donor heart preserved with UW. Ventricular arrhythmias and depressed cardiac function resulted in early death. All recipients of del Nido preserved hearts easily weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass with minimal inotropic support. B15416 and B1917 survived for 90 days and 241 days respectively. Histopathology in B15416 revealed no significant myocardial rejection but cellular infiltrate around Purkinje fibers. Histopathology in B1917 was consistent with severe rejection. B37367 had uneventful transplant but developed significant respiratory distress with a cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS Survival of B15416 and B1917 demonstrates the feasibility of pursuing additional research to document the ability to bridge an infant to cardiac allotransplant with a GEP heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Cleveland
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
| | - Abhijit Jagdale
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Waldemar F Carlo
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jack Crawford
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chair, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Gregory P Walcott
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Robert J Dabal
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Robert A Sorabella
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Leslie Rhodes
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Joey Timpa
- Department of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Silvio Litovsky
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Carlisle O'Meara
- Department of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Luz A Padilla
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jeremy Foote
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - David Mauchley
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Mohamed Bikhet
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | - Takayuki Yamamoto
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - David Kc Cooper
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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16
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Hara H, Li Q, Ayares D, Cooper DKC. Natural anti-pig antibodies in infant baboons. Xenotransplantation 2021; 28:e12692. [PMID: 33929061 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Qi Li
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang City, China
| | | | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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17
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Padilla LA, Rhodes L, Sorabella RA, Hurst DJ, Cleveland DC, Dabal RJ, Cooper DK, Paris W, Carlo WF. Attitudes toward xenotransplantation: A survey of parents and pediatric cardiac providers. Pediatr Transplant 2021; 25:e13851. [PMID: 33022840 DOI: 10.1111/petr.13851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scientific advancements are occurring in cardiac xenotransplantation (XTx). However, there have been religious and social concerns surrounding this allotransplantation alternative. The purpose of this study was to explore the acceptance of XTx among stakeholders of the congenital heart disease (CHD) community. METHODS A Likert-scale anonymous survey was distributed to physicians and nurses who care for children with CHD and parents of children with CHD. Psychosocial and clinical attitudes were compared across all groups to identify differences, and regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with XTx acceptance. RESULTS A total of 297 responded to the survey: 134 physicians, 62 nurses, and 101 parents. Potential acceptance of XTx if outcomes were similar to allotransplantation was high overall (75.3%), but different between the groups (physicians 86%; nurses 71%, parents 64%; P < .0001). Regression analysis showed respondents who reported religion would influence medical decision making (OR 0.48; 95%CI 0.24-0.97) and those who would not use a pig heart transplant as a bridge until a human heart became available were less likely to accept XTx (OR 0.09; 95%CI 0.04-0.21). Psychosocial concerns to XTx were minimal but were also associated with XTx acceptance particularly among parents (OR 0.17; 95%CI 0.03-0.80). CONCLUSIONS Potential acceptance of XTx is high, assuming results are similar to allotransplantation. Religious beliefs and attitudes toward the use of XTx as a bridge to allotransplant may present barriers to XTx acceptance. Future research is needed to assess potential attitude differences in light of ethical, psychosocial, and religious objections to XTx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz A Padilla
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Leslie Rhodes
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert A Sorabella
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Daniel J Hurst
- Department of Family Medicine, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
| | - David C Cleveland
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert J Dabal
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David K Cooper
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Wayne Paris
- Department of Social Work, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX, USA
| | - Waldemar F Carlo
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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18
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Bikhet M, Morsi M, Hara H, Rhodes LA, Carlo WF, Cleveland D, Cooper DK, Iwase H. The immune system in infants: Relevance to xenotransplantation. Pediatr Transplant 2020; 24:e13795. [PMID: 32845539 PMCID: PMC7606572 DOI: 10.1111/petr.13795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite the improvement in surgical interventions in the treatment of congenital heart disease, many life-threatening lesions (eg, hypoplastic left heart syndrome) ultimately require transplantation. However, there is a great limitation in the availability of deceased human cardiac donors of a suitable size. Hearts from genetically engineered pigs may provide an alternative source. The relatively immature immune system in infants (eg, absence of anti-carbohydrate antibodies, reduced complement activation, reduced innate immune cell activity) should minimize the risk of early antibody-mediated rejection of a pig graft. Additionally, recipient thymectomy, performed almost routinely as a preliminary to orthotopic heart transplantation in this age-group, impairs the T-cell response. Because of the increasing availability of genetically engineered pigs (eg, triple-knockout pigs that do not express any of the three known carbohydrate antigens against which humans have natural antibodies) and the ability to diagnose congenital heart disease during fetal life, cardiac xenotransplantation could be preplanned to be carried out soon after birth. Because of these several advantages, prolonged graft survival and even the induction of tolerance, for example, following donor-specific pig thymus transplantation, are more likely to be achieved in infants than in adults. In this review, we summarize the factors in the infant immune system that would be advantageous in the success of cardiac xenotransplantation in this age-group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Bikhet
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mahmoud Morsi
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Leslie A. Rhodes
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Waldemar F. Carlo
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David Cleveland
- Department of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David K.C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
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Backer CL. Invited Commentary: Xenotransplantation: Back to the Future? World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2020; 11:431. [PMID: 32645772 DOI: 10.1177/2150135120921112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carl L Backer
- Division of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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20
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Yamamoto T, Hara H, Iwase H, Jagdale A, Bikhet MH, Morsi M, Cui Y, Nguyen HQ, Wang Z, Anderson DJ, Foote J, Schuurman H, Ayares D, Eckhoff DE, Cooper DKC. The final obstacle to successful pre‐clinical xenotransplantation? Xenotransplantation 2020; 27:e12596. [DOI: 10.1111/xen.12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Yamamoto
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Abhijit Jagdale
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Mohamed H. Bikhet
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Mahmoud.A. Morsi
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Yehua Cui
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Huy Q. Nguyen
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Zheng‐Yu Wang
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Douglas J. Anderson
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - Jeremy Foote
- Department of Microbiology and Animal Resources Program University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | | | | | - Devin E. Eckhoff
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
| | - David K. C. Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program Department of Surgery University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
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