Why is xenotransplantation important?
There is a worldwide shortage of supply of organs for clinical transplantation, and many people die waiting for organs to become available. The development of xenotransplantation can be seen as serving several purposes: to be a complete substitute for human organs; to supplement human organs, thus easing the current shortage available for transplantation; or to be a “bridge” organ before a “destination” organ can be found. As well as xenotransplantation’s value to patients, there are also high stakes for others concerned, such as scientists, the biotechnology industry and infectious disease specialists. Xenotransplantation is currently not a recognized medical practice in industrialized countries, but has the potential to encompass a broad spectrum of applications. Any disease that can be treated by human-to-human transplantation may be able to be treated by xenotransplantation. Cellular transplants could provide treatment for people with diabetes, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases.
