title: Selected physiologic compatibilities and incompatibilities between human and porcine organ systems.
abstract: The shortage of donor organs is a major barrier to clinical organ transplantation. Although xenotransplantation is considered one of the alternatives to human organ transplantation, there are immunologic and physiologic incompatibilities between humans and pigs. With the exception of coagulation, the major potential physiologic incompatibilities relating to function of the kidney, heart, liver, lungs, pancreatic islets, and hormones are reviewed. Some of these physiologic differences can be overcome by producing genetically altered pigs to improve compatibility with humans. The possibility of producing such pigs for organ transplantation is considered.
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Zuhaib
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Awwad
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: David K C
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D013552:Swine; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000276:immunology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology