Xenotransplantation: Strategies to achieve donor-specific tolerance and immune reconstitution across species barriers through mixed bone marrow chimerism

Background:Allogeneic organ donation will never provide the quantities of organs required for patients with end-stage disease. It is estimated that over 3,000 candidates for a potentially lifesaving sold-organ transplant will die this year while on the waiting list as a result of the donor shortage. A further understanding of the mechanisms of xenoreactivity might make xenotransplantation a viable therapeutic option. This article reviews the benefits of xenotransplantation, including species-specific disease resistance and the potential unlimited supply of donor organs.