For proxy studies into the immune system, swine are proving to be one of the most reliable sources of data. Their immune system is quite similar to human immune systems in many ways, allowing for a wide range of useful research that continues to help save lives!
Animal Biotech Industries is one of America’s leaders in providing high-quality, research-grade porcine tissue, organs, and other materials to researchers around the country. We’re proud to support cutting-edge immunology work, and excited about recent research being done!
The Benefits of Porcine Tissue for Immunology Work
In the quest to understand the complexities of the immune system and develop effective treatments for diseases, researchers have increasingly turned to swine as a valuable model. This shift is driven by several compelling advantages that pigs offer over traditional research animals. This section explores the key reasons why porcine tissue has become central to cutting-edge immunological studies.
High Similarities to Human Systems
A growing body of research has shown that the porcine immune system is approximately 80% similar to humans, compared to only 10% similar in rodents. This includes relatively rare structures, such as tonsils. This instantly makes swine good candidates for immunology research.
Easy Availability
Unlike apes – another close match to humans – pigs are easy to breed and keep, and far less dangerous than most apes. Further, because pigs are widely used as food animals, many porcine organs and other tissues can be obtained as by-products of the agricultural industry, reducing both care costs and research-based animal deaths.
Disease Susceptibility
Swine are susceptible to a wide range of diseases that also affect humans, and it is often commonplace for diseases such as influenza to jump between pigs and humans. This makes them a good choice for infectious disease research.
Neonatal Immunities
One unusual aspect of swine is that developing fetuses do not receive antibodies while in the womb, and only receive antibodies via the mother’s milk. So, piglets are born with no natural disease immunities, and can potentially be kept in that state for weeks in laboratory conditions. Their “blank slate” immune systems allow piglets to be used extensively in neonatal disease research, as well as vaccine work.
Notable Lines of Swine Immunity Research
Research has shown that numerous specific aspects of swine anatomy and metabolism offer profitable options for human immunology research.
Pig Skin
The skin of pigs is remarkably similar to that of humans. According to research in Molecular Immunology, pig skin is similar in its “general structure, thickness, hair follicle content, pigmentation, collagen, and lipid composition.” This makes it an exceptional research subject for immunology, UV exposure, radiation, and healing, among other topics.
That particular research suggests that the porcine integumentary system could be particularly effective for testing needleless delivery systems for medicines and vaccines. Such work would be a boon for disease-fighting around the world.
Lymphatic System
While the swine lymphatic system is not identical to humans, it has substantial similarities – as discussed in this 2009 study from Developmental & Comparative Immunology. It particularly points to the possibilities of using pig spleens for trauma research, as well as studying immunological gut responses.
Even today, we’re only scratching the surface of what could be accomplished by studying the lymphatic system of swine.
Oral Cavity and Tonsils
As one of the few animals with tonsils, the oral cavities of pigs have become a subject of increased research in recent years. Studies into the tonsils of slaughtered hogs have helped reveal the health of farmed pigs, as well as providing insight into their suitability for human research.
Numerous other studies have been done into the persistence of diseases in pig tonsils, such as this work from BMC Veterinary Research. This work can help improve the suitability of swine tissues for disease work, as well as add insight into the operation of human tonsils.
T-Cell Research
More recently, the T-cells in swine which fight disease have become a popular topic of immunology research, as described by Molecular Immunology. While rodents have been traditionally used for such research, the significant differences between their immune systems and humans make it difficult to directly translate research between the two species.
Pigs, on the other hand, can serve as an excellent intermediary – research is first done on rodents, then replicated on pigs as a test of whether the research would apply to humans.
Xenotransplantation
Perhaps the ultimate end goal of all swine-based immunology research, at least as it applies to humans, is furthering the possibility of transplanting pig organs into people. The problem of the demand for organs far outpacing supply. This leads to numerous preventable deaths every year, and pig organs appear to be by far the best potential option for xenotransplantation.
We’ve already seen the first steps towards this, as there have recently been two relatively successful pig heart xenotransplants. The pigs had been genetically modified to be more compatible with human immune systems, reducing the chances of organ rejection. As porcine immune research continues, there is little doubt such efforts will continue to yield life-changing results.
Saving Lives with Swine Research
The field of porcine immunology research has exploded in the 21st century. This has created an exciting new time for anyone in disease or immune-system research. Greater understanding of pig immune systems will translate directly into better outcomes for both pigs and humans alike.
Animal Biotech Industries can be a trusted partner in your swine research! We specialize in providing highly reliable post-mortem tissues, harvested to order by dedicated experts. Proper shipment procedures are a high priority for our team, ensuring every swine organ, tissue, or fluid we ship arrives ready for quality research. We offer pig skin, lymphatic systems, porcine teeth and mandibles, intestinal passages, and much more.
Please browse our online catalog to see the range of products we offer. If you don’t see the materials you need, just contact us and we’ll make it happen.