Originally published September 23 2005
Pig-to-human organ transplants may become reality
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
New scientific strategies may make it possible to successfully transplant pig organs into human bodies by tricking the immune system into accepting or not recognizing the organs as foreign material.
Normally, putting a pig organ such as a kidney into a human would trigger a devastating and deadly immune response.
Now, new approaches by scientists have shown that it might be possible to trick the immune system into tolerating or not recognising foreign pig tissue.
One way is to produce pigs lacking a carbohydrate called "gal epitope" which is targeted by immune system antibodies.
Another is to mimic the natural process by which the body learns to deactivate cells that might potentially attack parts of itself.
Experiments using both strategies have allowed pig kidney transplants to survive in lab animals for more than 80 days, the BA Festival of Science at Trinity College, Dublin, was told.
Dr Anthony Warrens, from Imperial College London, said: "This is a great advance on the previous life expectancy, which could be measured in hours.
"It has led experimenters to feel cautiously optimistic that we can now clear many of the immunological hurdles that stand in the way of implementing the clinical practice of xenotransplantation [animal-to-human transplants]."
Experts agree that another problem often cited, the potential spread of pig viruses to humans, represented only a "tiny" risk, said Dr Warrens, and could be eradicated from herds used for transplants.
He added: "Do we have the right to use animals in this way?
This is a decision for society, not scientists."
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml