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Establishment of genetically modified pig animal models for xenotransplantation
Author(s) -
Klymiuk N.,
Kessler B.,
Kurome M.,
Wünsch A.,
Wolf E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
xenotransplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.052
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1399-3089
pISSN - 0908-665X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2008.00488_10.x
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , transgene , somatic cell nuclear transfer , biology , cloning (programming) , economic shortage , genetically modified organism , somatic cell , heterologous , genetically modified mouse , transplantation , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , embryo , gene , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics) , computer science , blastocyst , embryogenesis , programming language
Due to the shortage of available human donor organs, xenotransplantation is an alternative to allotransplanation. Pig is the favoured donor animal because of its similarities to man in size, anatomy and physiology as well as ethical reasons and questions of infectivity. On the other hand the genetic distance between human and porcine species requires comprehensive precautions to overcome immunological hurdles. Genetic alteration of the porcine genome is preferred to diminish rejection mechanisms rather than exposing human recipients to severe immunological treatment. Since the invention of somatic cloning, nuclear transfer is the most prominent way to establish transgenic large animals. However, the generation of a transgenic animal model is still a bold venture in costs of time and money. We have established somatic cloning of pigs and the generation of transgenic fibroblasts at our institute for transgenic pig production in a feasible extent.