Immune and Genome Engineering as the Future of Transplantable Tissue
Abstract
This review article explores the convergence of immune engineering and genome editing in advancing regenerative medicine and transplantable tissue solutions. The authors discuss extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds and regenerative immunology as viable alternatives to traditional allografts and synthetic devices. They highlight the immunomodulatory properties of ECM, scaling challenges in tissue engineering, and the evolving role of mesenchymal stem cells and regulatory T cells in promoting immune tolerance. The article further details xenotransplantation strategies, including CRISPR-Cas9–based removal of porcine endogenous retroviruses, immune cloaking transgenes, and complement/coagulation pathway humanization. Exogenesis—using human iPSCs in animal blastocysts to create humanized organs is presented as a promising frontier. The review emphasizes that immunologic modulation rather than suppression may unlock safer, scalable solutions for tissue restoration and transplantation.