Artificial Cell Markers

[ydoaPs]

Is it possible to create artificial cell markers? I was thinking that such a thing would be great for artificial hearts and the like.

 

Iirc, recipients of artificial hearts have to take immunosuppressants. Would an artificial heart that the body thinks is its own relieve that need?

[Genecks]

Probably. Do you mean markers for artificial cells? Artificial markers for cells?

An artificial heart is really a mechanical device, if I remember correctly.

Perhaps with surface construction, there could be a way to make the body stop attacking such a device.

 

Your post does make me wonder if anyone has tried gene therapy on a donor heart before planting it in a new host.

[ydoaPs]

Probably. Do you mean markers for artificial cells? Artificial markers for cells?

 

The immune system uses some sort of marker system(proteins for A, B, and +, for example) to determine what to attack and what belongs, right? Could we not replicate these markers and imbed them on whatever sterile plastic/metal of which an internal prosthesis is composed? In essence, I'm thinking something along this line could be used in tricking the body into recognizing the plastic appendage as its own rather than a foreign material.

[Genecks]

The immune system uses some sort of marker system(proteins for A, B, and +, for example) to determine what to attack and what belongs, right? Could we not replicate these markers and imbed them on whatever sterile plastic/metal of which an internal prosthesis is composed? ...

 

I'm getting a feeling that is already going on.

 

Artificial heart ready for human trials by 2011, say specialists

...It uses chemically enhanced animal tissue to decrease the risk of rejection by the patient's immune system, the major obstacle in artificial heart transplants...

- http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/oct/28/artificial-human-heart-trial-2011

 

 

I think the real goal, however, would be engineering the same stereostructure and molecular similarity of the cell-surface proteins into the engineered material rather than using an engineered biological coating.

 

I suspect if the human trials are more than 25% successful, then people will attempt to start coating the devices with a person's own biological tissue (if not an altered, engineered, non-rejective form).

Edited May 15, 2010 by Genecks

[Greippi]

The immune system uses some sort of marker system(proteins for A, B, and +, for example) to determine what to attack and what belongs, right?

 

It is a LOT more complicated than that. It's individual-specific (no one's going to have the EXACT same proteins as you, except possibly a twin), hence why you have to give immunosuppressant drugs to someone who has received a transplant.

[ydoaPs]

engineering the same stereostructure and molecular similarity of the cell-surface proteins into the engineered material......with a person's own biological tissue (if not an altered, engineered, non-rejective form).

That's what I'm talking about.

[Genecks]

It is a LOT more complicated than that. It's individual-specific (no one's going to have the EXACT same proteins as you, except possibly a twin), hence why you have to give immunosuppressant drugs to someone who has received a transplant.

 

The immune system issues leave a lot of room for biohacking. A person could just alter the immune system cells, thus preventing them from seeking varying cell-surface proteins/receptors, and the such. A large amount of knowledge of receptors and cell-surface proteins on biological agents, such as bacteria, is still lacking. Thus I believe people are not completely open to the idea of changing the immune system.

 

I often wonder how long it will take until people start accepting the idea of genetic engineering on humans. I believe in the U.S. that the University of Pennsylvania created a large deal of skepticism because of failed human gene therapy experiments.

Edited May 15, 2010 by Genecks

[ydoaPs]

It is a LOT more complicated than that. It's individual-specific (no one's going to have the EXACT same proteins as you, except possibly a twin), hence why you have to give immunosuppressant drugs to someone who has received a transplant.

 

A synthetic marker matrix could no doubt be based on a culture of the recipient's cells, should this idea in any way be feasible.

[Greippi]

The immune system issues leave a lot of room for biohacking. A person could just alter the immune system cells, thus preventing them from seeking varying cell-surface proteins/receptors, and the such.

So how exactly would you go about doing that? I'm interested.

 

Thus I believe people are not completely open to the idea of changing the immune system.

Probably because of the massive risk involved with tampering with such a complex and carefully balanced system.

[CharonY]

The identification of own cells requires quite not only the presence of subject specific antigens, but also the absence of foreign ones. So in effect you would have, on the molecular level, recreate the surface structure of a cell perfectly on the substrate you want to introduce. Plus, it has to be perfectly stable and may not, interact in any way and give rise to anything foreign that the immune system may detect.

This involves far more than putting protein on top of it (even considering highly complex glycoslyation patterns). Right now, to my knowledge there is not even a theoretical approach for that.

And Biohacking is such an absurd word.