Health

Pig organs ‘available to patients in a decade’

by Paul Conneally | November 7, 2008 at 01:53 am

368 views | 30 Recommendations | 8 comments

Pig organs have for a long time been seen as a possibly beeing able to be used as in humans but rejection has been a problem. Now scientists have announced that using genetically modified pigs bred specifically for purpose this will be possible in around 3 years time.

There are enough human organs around for transplant if everyone became a donor and live donations were also made more easily available but in the absence of this and also to develop a methodology that is not reliant on another human dying or undergoing surgery this new 'pig transplant' procedure offers great hope for those awaiting a new organ.

Organs from pigs could be widely available for transplanting into patients in a decade, Lord Winston said yesterday.

The first organs suitable for transplanting, most likely kidneys, are expected to be ready within three years and, if tests are successful, their use could be widespread by 2018.

A herd of as few as 50 pigs is expected to be kept as breeding stock to provide organs “to order” and to slash waiting times for thousands of people needing transplants.

Professor Winston, of Imperial College, London, and his collaborator, Carol Readhead, of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, are leading research into transplanting animal organs into people.

They are attempting to breed pigs that have been genetically modified so that porcine organs are accepted by the human body instead of being immediately rejected.

Human immune systems are quick to react to “foreign bodies” but the scientists are confident that they are close to modifying the genetic make-up of pigs to “humanise” their organs and make animal-to-human transplants possible.

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JeffHuang

at 01:55 on November 7th, 2008

Pig organs in humans. That is really interesting. If it really works that would be great.

Paul Conneally

at 02:05 on November 7th, 2008

Thanks Jeff - it would be quite a breakthrough. This said I can see the ethical arguments against it around all sorts of issues from various groups. Some might not be easy with the idea of having breeding farms of animals that are to be just used for 'farming organs' - at this point because of the genetic modification of the pigs they would not be seen as 'eatable' - especially if they contain human DNA - so the pigs would literally be farmed for organs - at the moment just kidneys.

I'm thinking this method would not be available for Muslims, Jews or members of other faiths and cultures that see pigs as 'dirty' animals not to be eaten etc.

This said I know that there are many ill people who will welcome this science.

JeffHuang

at 02:09 on November 7th, 2008

Oh yes that is true. I didn't even think that far ahead and how other cultures would think of it.

Amitjha

at 02:12 on November 7th, 2008

YOU are right about the controversy related with the organ farm..........but suppose, if humans are used to develop organs for animals, what will be your reaction?BY gentically modifying humans mindset too.

Paul Conneally

at 03:05 on November 7th, 2008

Now that would be a turn around in thinking!

Amitjha

at 03:44 on November 7th, 2008

That is happening,

surrogate mother, use of humans for medicinal trials, and offcource keeping clone......................copy to transplant rotting body part, are some of them. only thing is who can pay for this kind of services.

Millions of people die of T.B , malaraia, Hunger.......malnutrition, .............................a genetic elimination of mosquito itself can save 1.5 mollion people every year, but pharma company will not fund this kind of reserach .....reason known to all!!!!!!!!!

reno_fog

at 12:12 on November 7th, 2008

This would be relieve for the vast numbers of Kidney Patients who wait for years for a replacement.

The only alternative is dialysis which can be done either by an over night lavage of the abdomen or standard dialysis thru a manufactured structured called a A-V fistula. Both require surgery and both need to be revised over time.

Over time it takes longer for both to work and leaves a reduced standard of life for the patient. Dialysis has a cost issue as well.

I for one hope this is a next step.