Xenotransplantation--is it just around the corner?
Xenotransplantation will certainly solve the problem of the allogeneic organ shortage if long-term organ function can be achieved. Acceptance or rejection of the grafts depend not only on immunological mechanism but, as already recognized in chronic rejection (i.e. transplant atherosclerosis), on many other biochemical, physiological, and even morphological characteristics including inflammatory events originating from infections. The way in which signals in the form of hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes and growth factors are translated in xenogeneic systems has not received adequate attention, if any at all. Central questions still to be answered are, how many xenogeneic hormonal and enzymatical interactions are possible? Are they able to maintain the metabolism in a foreign organ or body and for how long? In addition, transport molecules, the most important of which is albumin, must be considered when trying to achieve long-term survival using organs from a widely divergent species. Large quantities of foreign proteins, mediators and enzymes are released into the circulation when, for example, xenogeneic livers or other organs suffer from hyperacute rejection. The function of the liberated enzymes, hormones and inhibitors is far from being understood or even investigated. The amount of potassium released from a deteriorating xenogeneic liver is able to mimic a sometimes lethal cardioplegic solution. The first data coming from intravital microscopy herald that adhesion molecules, the newest but not last in the line of troubleshooters, interact with interleukins and eicosanoids and play a major role in the regulation of microcirculation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hammer
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D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015777:Eicosanoids; D007378:Interleukins