The University of Southampton

Author: Maria Pantelidou

Xenotransplantation: A medical breakthrough or an ethical dilemma?

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During one of our lectures, our professor brought up the topic of ‘humanised pigs’ where human stem cells are injected into pig embryos to form human organs, and this piqued my interest.

The process of transplanting cells from one species to another is known as xenotransplantation, and has the potential to solve the shortage of organs for transplants. According to the NHS, currently 6963 patients are waiting for an organ transplant and 3396 patients have received one. Unfortunately, my uncle was not one of the lucky ones, and he passed away. Because of him, I felt compelled to conduct further research in the field of xenotransplantation. Could a xenotransplantation have potentially saved my uncle’s life? And if so, would he have agreed to it if given the chance?

The idea of genetically modifying animals to serve as organ donors for humans is both fascinating and controversial, and therefore I had to explore it further.

The history of xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation timeline made using Adobe Premier Rush.

How is xenotransplantation performed?

Pigs are ideal candidates because of their size, ease of breeding, and anatomical and physiological similarities to humans.

Pig cells are genetically modified using gene knockouts or gene-editing technology like CRISPR-Cas9 in order to reduce the risk of rejection by the human immune system.

This is done by removing pig genes that will trigger immune responses when transplanted in humans and by introducing human genes to make the pig organs more compatible.

Once the genetically-engineered pigs are grown, the desired organ is removed and transplanted into the patient.

Immunosuppressive drugs are administered and the patient is monitored for the rest of their lives.

What are the ethical issues and concerns in xenotransplantation?

Is the breeding of animals for the purpose of using them as a supply of organs ethically acceptable? Is it more ethically justifiable to use animals for cosmetic and drug research (e.g. development of vaccines and cancer treatments)?

There is much debate surrounding the use of animal organs in humans, raising concerns about their exploitation:

  • It violates animal welfare; it is unethical and cruel as they are capable of suffering and feeling pain
  • Animals can not give consent; genetically modifying pigs to harvest their organs violates animal rights and we are using them for our own benefit without their explicit consent.

Some may argue about the possibility of organ rejection and the risk of cross-species infection, but if you ask me technology advances rapidly and by using CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically modify pigs, antigenicity can be reduced and viruses like PERVs- porcine endogenous retrovirus, can be inactivated, lowering the risk of transmission.

Although, it is important not to neglect other possible alternatives in addressing organ shortages like tissue engineering, lab grown organs, 3D bioprinting and stem cell research.

The way I see it, while there are significant ethical considerations, the potential benefits of using animals for human transplantations can’t be ignored. If this could possibly mean saving my uncle’s life, how could I not support it? What if you had a close relative who needed an organ transplant, would that change your perspective on xenotransplantation?

Taking into account everything I have learnt so far from my research, I believe that xenotransplantation is moving closer to becoming a viable and life- saving option for patients in need. As it progresses, it is essential to maintain a balance between the scientific advances and ethical considerations to ensure the welfare of both humans and animals. Whether we like it or not this is a medical breakthrough!

Raising awareness for Parkinson’s disease

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Recently my family received the unfortunate news that my grandmother has been diagnosed with stage 1 Parkinson’s disease. This came as a shock to me and since then I have been trying to educate myself about this condition and figure out the best way to support her.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder affecting more than 10 million people worldwide. This is caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra leading to a decrease in the dopamine neurotransmitter that is essential for controlling movement and coordination. This decrease in dopamine leads to motor symptoms including hand tremors, slow movement, limb rigidity, imbalance, and non-motor symptoms including cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, sleep disorders, and so on.

What causes this degenerative condition?…we don’t know!

The underlying mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of nerve cells associated with PD are not yet fully understood. Researchers believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors cause the dopamine-producing cells to die. Some of the factors that have been linked to PD include aging, exposure to certain toxins, head injuries, and genetic mutations (Parkin and PINK1 gene).

5 stages of Parkinson’s disease

PD can start with mild symptoms and go unnoticed, but as the condition worsens, symptoms become more obvious and can have a big impact on daily life.

Treatments, not cures: Living with Parkinson’s disease

  • Medications: Drugs such as levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, and COMT inhibitors can help manage the motor symptoms of PD.
  • Physical therapy: Regular exercise can help improve motor function, muscle strength, increase flexibility, and reduce stiffness, which can be very important in the early stages of the disease.
  • Deep brain stimulation: This procedure involves implanting a device called a neurostimulator which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain to lessen the symptoms of PD.

My grandmother’s doctor has prescribed medication to help manage her symptoms and advised her to stay active in any way she can. Is this enough? PD usually develops in people over 60 but it can also occur in younger people, what about them? Is this the only solution?

Unsatisfied with this information, I continued researching until I came across a useful article that offered fresh new perspectives; Stem cells: Parkinson’s treatment breakthrough. Preclinical studies using mesenchymal stem cells have shown promising results for treating PD; aiming to reduce neuroinflammation, modulate the immune system to prevent disease progression, and repair or even replace, the damaged or lost, dopamine-producing cells in the brain. This could lead to significant improvements in motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness, rigidity, and difficulty with movement.

While more research is required to confirm the effectiveness of stem cell therapy on PD, this gives me hope for the future. Stem cells are so powerful, they can renew themselves indefinitely, and be manipulated in the lab to develop into specific cell types, possessing a tremendous potential to be used in therapies to treat a variety of diseases and conditions, why not PD be one of them?

Engineering replacement body parts- why i chose this module

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Do you want to find out how stem cells are being used to help treat disease and allow us to live better, for longer?

University of Southampton UOSM2031

As a second year biomedical science student I was given the chance to choose three optional modules for semester two. I knew I wanted to chose Vertebrate Development and Medical Microbiology, but what else? Going through each and every one of the optional modules we had and reading about their contents this first sentence for the Engineering replacement body parts modules intrigued me. I find stem cells fascinating and the range of uses they have is amazing.