Differences in platelet aggregometers to study platelet function and coagulation dysregulation in xenotransplantation

Abstract

Xenotransplantation (ie, cross‐species transplantation) using genetically engineered pig organs could be a limitless source to solve the shortage of organs and tissues worldwide. However, despite prolonged survival in preclinical pig‐to‐nonhuman primate xenotransplantation trials, interspecies coagulation dysregulation remains to be overcome in order to achieve continuous long‐term success. Different platelet aggregometry methods have been previously used to study the coagulation dysregulation with wild‐type and genetically engineered pig cells, including the impact of possible treatment options. Among these methods, while thromboelastography and rotational thromboelastometry measure the change in viscoelasticity, optical aggregometry measures the change in opacity. Recently, impedance aggregometry has been used to measure changes in platelet aggregation in electrical conductance, providing more information to our understanding of coagulation dysregulation in xenotransplantation compared to previous methods. The present study reviews the merits and differences of the above‐mentioned platelet aggregometers in xenotransplantation research.

Xenotransplantation Literature Update January/February 2021

“…While other methods using ELISA and flow cytometry have the advantage of storability, they are time consuming, operator, and quality dependent. PAs would immensely help understand the impact of gene modifications (insertions or deletions) on various stages of the coagulation pathways 27 …”