Analysis of patients treated with living pig tissue for evidence of infection by porcine endogenous retroviruses.
Trends Cardiovasc Med
; 11(5): 190-6, 2001 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11597830
ABSTRACT
The use of pigs as a source of cells and organs for transplantation has the potential to reduce the current chronic shortage of organs for the treatment of many end-stage diseases. The risk of transmission of infectious agents across the species barrier (zoonoses) has to be assessed. Many such agents can be eliminated from the pig herd. However, porcine endogenous retroviruses, which are carried within the pig genome, are not easily eliminated. They can infect primary and immortalized human cells in vitro, but to date no evidence for in vivo infection has been found in retrospective studies of humans exposed to viable porcine cells. Small-scale clinical trials using porcine cells for the treatment of Parkinson's and Huntington's disease are currently in progress. The prospective monitoring of these patients in conjunction with further research into the biology of this virus will help address safety issues.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Swine
/
Transplantation, Heterologous
/
Endogenous Retroviruses
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Trends Cardiovasc Med
Journal subject:
ANGIOLOGIA
/
CARDIOLOGIA
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom