title: Semi-xenotransplantation: the regenerative medicine-based approach to immunosuppression-free transplantation and to meet the organ demand.
abstract: Although xenografts have always held immeasurable potential as an inexhaustible source of donor organs, immunological barriers and physiological incompatibility have proved to be formidable obstacles to clinical utility. An exciting, new regenerative medicine-based approach termed "semi-xenotransplantation" (SX) seeks to overcome these obstacles by combining the availability and reproducibility of animal organs with the biocompatibility and functionality of human allografts. Compared to conventional xenotransplantation wherein the whole organ is animal-derived, SX grafts are cleansed of their antigenic cellular compartment to produce whole-organ extracellular matrix scaffolds that retain their innate structure and vascular channels. These scaffolds are then repopulated with recipient or donor human stem cells to generate biocompatible semi-xenografts with the structure and function of native human organs. While numerous hurdles must be still overcome in order for SX to become a viable treatment option for end-stage organ failure, the immense potential of SX for meeting the urgent needs for a new source of organs and immunosuppression-free transplantation justifies the interest that the transplant community is committing to the field.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peloso
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katari
authors.forename: Shay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soker
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stratta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlando
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000637:transplantation*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000637:transplantation*; D005544:Forecasting; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D019737:Transplants / Q000600:supply & distribution
keywords: cell-on-scaffold-seeding technology; extracellular matrix; organ bioengineering; regenerative medicine; semi-xenotransplantation; stem cells; xenotransplantation