Xenotransplantation and Genetic Engineering: Avantea’s Contribution to the Future of Transplants
The growing gap between the demand for and availability of human organs for transplantation is pushing the scientific community to explore alternative solutions. Among these, xenotransplantation — the use of animal organs for therapeutic purposes — represents one of the most promising short-term prospects.
In a recent article published in the journal Transplant International, Cesare Galli, co-founder and scientific director of Avantea, explores the most advanced genetic editing techniques in pigs, currently at the center of research aimed at making this new frontier of medicine possible.
Genetic Editing Techniques: Building Compatible Organs
The human immune system recognizes a pig organ as foreign, triggering immediate rejection. To overcome this barrier, pigs must be genetically modified. Thanks to CRISPR-Cas9 technology, it is now possible to directly modify the DNA of animals with extreme precision, pursuing two main objectives:
– Eliminate specific antigens (such as GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GalNT2) that trigger rejection;
– Insert human genes that promote the acceptance of the organ by the recipient, reducing inflammation and coagulation processes.
This type of intervention requires a highly specialized approach, and Avantea is one of the few centers in Europe capable of performing these modifications efficiently, under controlled and repeatable conditions.
From Cell to Animal: How a “Donor” Pig Is Created
Once the desired genetic modifications have been achieved, they must be transferred into a living organism. This is done through a technique called Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) — the same that led to the birth of Dolly the sheep — now applied with great precision in Avantea’s laboratories.
The process develops in five steps:
1. Collection of somatic cells (e.g., fibroblasts from ear biopsies) from a pig.
2. In vitro genetic editing of the cells using CRISPR-Cas9 and selection of correctly modified clones.
3. Transfer of the nuclei of the modified cells into enucleated pig oocytes, collected from slaughterhouses following ethical principles.
4. Culture and implantation of the cloned embryos into synchronized sows.
5. Birth of piglets, all carrying the genetic modification and capable of transmitting it to subsequent generations.
Although the process is technically complex and still offers room for improvement in terms of efficiency (only 2–10% of embryos develop to birth), it currently represents the only reliable way to obtain donor animals with fully modified and stable genomes.
A Prospect That Can Change Lives
Working on these technologies does not mean simply conducting cutting-edge research. It means paving a concrete path to give hope to thousands of patients who currently have no therapeutic alternatives. The possibility that an organ from a pig could replace a human heart, kidney, or liver is no longer science fiction: the first experimental transplants have already taken place, and the start of clinical trials authorized by the FDA marks a historic moment for medicine.
Avantea’s Role in Regenerative Medicine
Avantea has always stood alongside science to bring concrete solutions into clinical practice. With established experience in animal cloning and the production of genetically modified models, our facility represents an international reference center for biotechnological research. Our activities are based on a rigorous scientific approach, compliance with ethical standards, and animal welfare — essential pillars of our work.
To read the full publication:
🔗 Read the full article on Transplant International
