Therapeutic transplantation using developing, human or porcine, renal or hepatic, grafts

Abstract

A method of treating a renal, hepatic or enzyme-deficiency disorder in a subject in need thereof is disclosed. The method is effected by transplanting into the subject tissue derived from a human or porcine, kidney or liver, the kidney or liver being at a selected gestational stage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of alleviating or stabilizing or inhibiting future onset or development of a hepatic disorder or hepatic enzyme-deficiency disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising transplanting hepatic organ or tissue into the subject, said hepatic organ or tissue being derived from a human liver being at a stage of development selected from a range of 6 to 14 weeks of gestation, thereby treating the hepatic disorder or hepatic enzyme-deficiency disorder in the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said human liver is at a stage of development selected from a range of 6 to 12 weeks of gestation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said human liver is at a stage of development selected from a range of 6 to 10 weeks of gestation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said human liver is at a stage of development selected from a range of 6 to 9 weeks of gestation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said human liver is at a stage of development selected from a range of 6 to 8 weeks of gestation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating the subject with an immunosuppressive regimen prior to, concomitantly with or following said transplanting said hepatic organ or tissue into the subject, thereby promoting engraftment of said hepatic organ or tissue in the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said treating the subject with an immunosuppressive regimen is effected by administering at least one immunosuppressant drug to the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said administering said at least one immunosuppressant drug to the subject is effected during a time period selected from a range of 1 to 60 days. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said human liver is non-syngeneic with the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transplanting said hepatic organ or tissue is effected into an anatomical location selected from the group consisting of a liver, a renal capsule, a sub-cutis, a omentum and a spleen. 
     
     
         12 . A method of alleviating or stabilizing or inhibiting future onset or development of a hepatic or hepatic enzyme-deficiency disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising transplanting hepatic organ precursor/tissue into the subject, said hepatic organ precursor/tissue being derived from a porcine liver being at a stage of development of 27-29 days of gestation, thereby alleviating or stabilizing or inhibiting future onset or development of the hepatic or hepatic enzyme-deficiency disorder in the subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising treating the subject with an immunosuppressive regimen prior to, concomitantly with or following said transplanting said hepatic organ precursor/tissue into the subject, thereby promoting engraftment of said organ precursor/tissue in the subject. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said treating the subject with an immunosuppressive regimen is effected by administering at least one immunosuppressant drug to the subject. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said administering said at least one immunosuppressant drug to the subject is effected during a time period selected from a range of 1 to 60 days. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said transplanting said hepatic organ precursor/tissue into the subject is effected by transplanting said hepatic organ precursor/tissue into an anatomical location of the subject selected from the group consisting of the portal vein, the liver, the renal capsule, the sub-cutis, the omentum, the spleen, and the intra-abdominal space. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said porcine liver is xenogeneic with the subject. 
     
     
         19 . A method of alleviating or stabilizing or inhibiting future onset or development of a hepatic, or hepatic enzyme-deficiency disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising transplanting non-cultured hepatic organ precursor/tissue into the subject, said non-cultured hepatic organ precursor/tissue being derived from a porcine liver being at a stage of development selected of 27-29 days of gestation, thereby alleviating or stabilizing or inhibiting future onset or development of the hepatic or hepatic enzyme-deficiency disorder in the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising treating the subject with an immunosuppressive regimen prior to, concomitantly with or following said transplanting said non-cultured hepatic organ precursor/tissue into the subject, thereby promoting engraftment of said organ precursor/tissue in the subject. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said treating the subject with an immunosuppressive regimen is effected by administering at least one immunosuppressant drug to the subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said administering said at least one immunosuppressant drug to the subject is effected during a time period selected from a range of 1 to 60 days. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said transplanting said non-cultured hepatic organ precursor/tissue into the subject is effected by transplanting said non-cultured hepatic organ precursor/tissue into an anatomical location of the subject selected from the group consisting of the portal vein, the liver, the renal capsule, the sub-cutis, the omentum, the spleen, and the intra-abdominal space. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said porcine liver is xenogeneic with the subject.