In response to the recent donor shortage, bioartificial islet transplantation (xenotransplantation) has resumed in some countries. In addition, clinical transplants of kidneys, hearts, corneas, and bioartificial islets are being prepared in many countries, and the results of preclinical studies using non-human primates (NHP) have already made remarkable progress. These results are sufficient to start clinical trials, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
In the field of xenotransplantation, species specificity of the complement system was first noted as the mechanism of hyperacute rejection. Later, with the addition of advances in porcine transgenic (TG) technology, competition for the development of pigs expressing human complement regulator proteins (CRPs) has begun. Therefore, CRPs were expressed in pig cells in vivo and in vitro, and changes in the human immune response to these grafts have become one focus of research in this area. Next, the existence of several xenogeneic sugar chain antigens including the a-Gal, Hanganutziu-Deicher (HD) and Sd(a) antigen, was revealed, a knockout (KO) method was developed, and new methods (CRISPR, etc.) were successful. Now these four genes, including porcine MHC, have already been knocked out at the same time. A lot of research has also been done on changes in host-side innate and adaptive immune responses to these xenogeneic glyccoantigens and MHC-knocked out porcine grafts.
During the editing of pig genes, attempts to induce immune tolerance or resistance on the host (Human) side by developing new immunological methods and new immunosuppressive agents are being studied. Attempts to encapsulate porcine cells and the resulting changes in the immune response have also been studied. The study for Xenotransplantation is done from different points of view, and the immunological analyses are becoming more complex. It is also believed that these studies will extend to all organs and tissues, not just the islets, kidneys, heart, and cornea. This Research Topic will comprehensively cover research on xenotransplantation, which is undergoing immunological analysis and management.
We welcome the submissions of Review, Methods, and Original Research articles on the following, and related, subtopics:
- Changes in rejection mechanism relate to gene editing
- Innate immunity and adaptive immunity in Xenotransplantation
- Xenotransplantation preclinical studies and its immunological analysis
- Immunomodulation and Xeno-tolerance induction, such as Temporary T or B cell depletion, Xeno-CAR, Hybrid thymus, Treg & Breg, etc.
- New drug study in Xenotransplantation
- Glycobiological changes and immunological response associated with it
- Encapsulation and immunological changes of the graft cells in Xenotransplantation.
Topic Editor Chung-Gyu Park is director of Genenbio Inc. and is the CEO of PB Immune Therapeutics Inc. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
In response to the recent donor shortage, bioartificial islet transplantation (xenotransplantation) has resumed in some countries. In addition, clinical transplants of kidneys, hearts, corneas, and bioartificial islets are being prepared in many countries, and the results of preclinical studies using non-human primates (NHP) have already made remarkable progress. These results are sufficient to start clinical trials, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
In the field of xenotransplantation, species specificity of the complement system was first noted as the mechanism of hyperacute rejection. Later, with the addition of advances in porcine transgenic (TG) technology, competition for the development of pigs expressing human complement regulator proteins (CRPs) has begun. Therefore, CRPs were expressed in pig cells in vivo and in vitro, and changes in the human immune response to these grafts have become one focus of research in this area. Next, the existence of several xenogeneic sugar chain antigens including the a-Gal, Hanganutziu-Deicher (HD) and Sd(a) antigen, was revealed, a knockout (KO) method was developed, and new methods (CRISPR, etc.) were successful. Now these four genes, including porcine MHC, have already been knocked out at the same time. A lot of research has also been done on changes in host-side innate and adaptive immune responses to these xenogeneic glyccoantigens and MHC-knocked out porcine grafts.
During the editing of pig genes, attempts to induce immune tolerance or resistance on the host (Human) side by developing new immunological methods and new immunosuppressive agents are being studied. Attempts to encapsulate porcine cells and the resulting changes in the immune response have also been studied. The study for Xenotransplantation is done from different points of view, and the immunological analyses are becoming more complex. It is also believed that these studies will extend to all organs and tissues, not just the islets, kidneys, heart, and cornea. This Research Topic will comprehensively cover research on xenotransplantation, which is undergoing immunological analysis and management.
We welcome the submissions of Review, Methods, and Original Research articles on the following, and related, subtopics:
- Changes in rejection mechanism relate to gene editing
- Innate immunity and adaptive immunity in Xenotransplantation
- Xenotransplantation preclinical studies and its immunological analysis
- Immunomodulation and Xeno-tolerance induction, such as Temporary T or B cell depletion, Xeno-CAR, Hybrid thymus, Treg & Breg, etc.
- New drug study in Xenotransplantation
- Glycobiological changes and immunological response associated with it
- Encapsulation and immunological changes of the graft cells in Xenotransplantation.
Topic Editor Chung-Gyu Park is director of Genenbio Inc. and is the CEO of PB Immune Therapeutics Inc. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
