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Ghazi M, Saleh A, Abdallah M, El Masri D, El Masri J, El Ayoubi LM, Hawi J, Jurjus A. Barriers toward xenotransplantation in Arab World. Xenotransplantation 2024; 31:e12852. [PMID: 38526015 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Organ transplant is a crucial therapeutic strategy offering a life-saving and transformative medical intervention. It provides an opportunity to improve their quality of life and increase their lifespan. The shortage of organs remains a critical global challenge, leading to a prolonged waiting times for organ receivers, which contributes to an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. Hence, xenotransplantation offered a promising solution to the global shortage of organs through the use of animal organs, leading to an increase in donor availability, reducing waiting times, minimizing organ trafficking, improving genetic engineering advancements, and driving scientific innovation. Even though xenotransplantation has many benefits in the clinical setting, it has many barriers that are hindering its achievements and constraining its occurrence. Some barriers to xenotransplant are general, such as the immunological barrier, while others are specific to certain regions due to local causes. The Arab region exhibits disparities in clinical settings compared to the global context, marked by the huge economic crisis and a shortage of trained healthcare professionals. Considering the huge resources and advancements needed in the field of xenotransplantation, this review aims to explore the specific barriers toward xenotransplantation in the Arab countries, highlighting the challenges to overcome these barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Ghazi
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Aalaa Saleh
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Malak Abdallah
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Diala El Masri
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Balamand, Koura, Lebanon
| | - Jad El Masri
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Jihad Hawi
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Abdo Jurjus
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Abstract
There is a well-known worldwide shortage of deceased human donor organs for clinical transplantation. The transplantation of organs from genetically engineered pigs may prove an alternative solution. In the past 5 years, there have been sequential advances that have significantly increased pig graft survival in nonhuman primates. This progress has been associated with (1) the availability of increasingly sophisticated genetically engineered pigs; (2) the introduction of novel immunosuppressive agents, particularly those that block the second T-cell signal (costimulation blockade); (3) a better understanding of the inflammatory response to pig xenografts; and (4) increasing experience in the management of nonhuman primates with pig organ or cell grafts. The range of investigations required in experimental studies has increased. The standard immunologic assays are still carried out, but increasingly investigations aimed toward other pathobiologic barriers (e.g., coagulation dysregulation and inflammation) have become more important in determining injury to the graft.Now that prolonged graft survival, extending to months or even years, is increasingly being obtained, the function of the grafts can be more reliably assessed. If the source pigs are bred and housed under biosecure isolation conditions, and weaned early from the sow, most microorganisms can be eradicated from the herd. The potential risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infection remains unknown, but is probably small. Attention is being directed toward the selection of patients for the first clinical trials of xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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Hosny N, Burlak C. Xenotransplantation literature update, March/April 2019. Xenotransplantation 2019; 26:e12538. [DOI: 10.1111/xen.12538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Hosny
- Department of Surgery University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis Minnesota
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Suez Canal University Faculty of Medicine Ismailia Egypt
| | - Christopher Burlak
- Department of Surgery University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis Minnesota
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