Some ethical issues regarding xenotransfusion.
BACKGROUND
The use of porcine red blood cells has recently been proposed as a possible solution to the shortage of blood for human transfusion.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to compare some ethical issues regarding xenotransfusion (XTF) with those relating to xenotransplantation (XT) of organs, tissues and cells.


METHODS
Various ethical concerns and viewpoints relating to XTF are discussed.


RESULTS
The main ethical obstacles to XT do not apply to XTF. It is much more ethically acceptable to raise pigs for regular blood collection as it doesn't damage the health of the animal. Porcine endogenous retrovirus infection, the major concern associated with XT, does not apply to XTF, since red blood cells have no DNA and have a very short lifespan. Clinical trials will be possible in humans once XTF has been demonstrated to be effective and harmless in non-human primates. Transgenesis is acceptable for pig blood donors because only a limited number of genes are involved, and these animals will never enter into the livestock gene pool or the food chain.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the need for blood is less pressing than that for organs, tissues or cells, the use of animal blood for human transfusion is not an absolute necessity. However, it represents a real opportunity. The ability to gain access to an unlimited quantity of blood is a reasonable justification for XTF. Because its technical and ethical hurdles are less stringent, XTF could be the first large-scale clinical application of XT.
Roux
Françoise A
FA
Department of Cellular and Molecular Immuno-Endocrinology, INRA, Nantes School of Veterinary Medicine, Atlanpole, La Chantrerie, Nantes, France.
Saï
Pierre
P
Deschamps
Jack-Yves
JY
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D017087:Animal Rights; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000635:transmission; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000097:blood*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000941:ethics*; D015047:Zoonoses