Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Cornea. 2011 Apr;30(4):371-8. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e3181f237ef.
Although corneal transplantation (Tx) is readily available in the United States and certain other regions of the developed world, the need for human donor corneas worldwide far exceeds supply. There is currently renewed interest in the possibility of using corneas from other species, especially pigs, for Tx into humans (xeno-Tx). The biomechanical properties of human and pig corneas are similar. Studies in animal models of corneal xeno-Tx have documented both humoral and cellular immune responses that play roles in xenograft rejection. The results obtained from the Tx of corneas from wild-type (ie, genetically unmodified) pigs into nonhuman primates have been surprisingly good and encouraging. Recent progress in the genetic manipulation of pigs has led to the prospect that the remaining immunological barriers will be overcome. There is every reason for optimism that corneal xeno-Tx will become a clinical reality within the next few years.
虽然角膜移植（Tx）在美国和其他一些发达国家地区已经广泛应用，但全球对人供体角膜的需求远远超过了供应。目前，人们对使用其他物种，特别是猪的角膜进行 Tx 到人类（异种 Tx）的可能性重新产生了兴趣。人眼和猪眼角膜的生物力学特性相似。在角膜异种 Tx 的动物模型研究中，已记录了体液和细胞免疫反应，这些反应在异种移植物排斥中发挥作用。将来自野生型（即遗传上未修饰）猪的角膜移植到非人类灵长类动物中所获得的结果出人意料地好，令人鼓舞。猪的遗传操作方面的最新进展使得人们有望克服剩余的免疫障碍。我们有充分的理由对未来几年内角膜异种 Tx 成为临床现实持乐观态度。
