WHO ( World Health Organization) has reported that as per estimates, 130,000 organ transplants occur every year; however, the statistics only represent around 10% of global transplant requirements. This difference is too significant and shows that many patients in dire need of transplant surgery cannot find donors at the right time.
Recently, a research team has published a study that might help us advance towards achieving this goal. They have successfully integrated human cells into animal tissue. The study done on chimeric organisms might have a substantial positive impact on Regenerative Medicine Market as it could help develop transplantable organs and help save the lives of numerous patients.
In science, one of the most powerful tools for researchers would be to develop the ability to grow cells of one species inside the organism of some other species. The approach would potentially advance the scientific understanding of early human development and onset of disease, its progression, and aging. Further, it could provide innovative platforms for evaluating drugs and look into the crucial need for the transplantation of organs. However, developing such a technique is extremely challenging till now.
Researchers used chimeric organisms containing cells from two or more species to understand different types of human diseases and address the problem of donor organs. The chimeric approach may turn out to be quite useful and not only at the earliest stages of life but also the latest stage.
The team grew human cells inside pig tissue whose organ size and anatomy are similar to humans and might decrease several problems. They revealed that they first used chimeras with macaques because they can disclose invaluable information about human cells' development and integration. Moreover, they could enlighten researchers upon how the cells of different species interact with each other. In this manner, researchers could improve the integration of human cells into more suitable hosts like pigs which would help enhance regenerative medicine and the aging process, etc.
Chimerism is not an exciting organism for only regenerative processes but also aging. The team could not find out whether organs age at the same rate or if the age of one organ drives the aging of all other organs. However, they have started the process to probe which organs might be the key to aging and which signals to help them survive for a long time.
The research team has found great success with this study which could lead to the development of transplantable organs one day. The team is set to further look into the molecular pathways that have been identified to be involved in the interspecies communications and would detect which of them are critical to the success of this process.