The Pig As a Potential Xenograft Donor

Miniature swine have several advantages over other potential donor species as a xenograft donor for clinical use. Among these advantages are: (1) unlimited availability; (2) size (similar to human beings); (3) breeding characteristics; (4) physiologic and immunologic similarities to humans. Because of the genetic disparity between these two species, routine immunosuppression will probably not suffice for the long-term survival of pig to primate xenografts. Studies are therefore underway to induce tolerance across this species barrier, utilizing a mixed chimerism approach which has previously been successful for allogeneic and concordant xenogeneic combinations. Hyperacute rejection has been eliminated by an absorption technique and pig kidney xenograft survivals up to 13 days have been achieved.