First Ever Pig Lung Transplant in Human Marks Breakthrough in Xenotransplantation
In a groundbreaking medical first, a lung from a genetically altered pig has been successfully transplanted into a human recipient in China. This marks the beginning of a new era in organ transplantation, aiming to tackle the critical shortage of human donor organs.
The trial, conducted in China, involved a lung from a Bama Xiang pig with six edited genes. These modifications helped to reduce the risk of immune rejection and prevent the transmission of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs). The transplanted lung began functioning within a day and continued to do so for over nine days.
This is a significant step forward in the field of xenotransplantation, where animal organs are used to save human lives. While other pig organs, such as hearts, livers, and kidneys, have been successfully transplanted into humans, this is the first time a lung has been used. The goal is to address the urgent need for donor organs, with approximately 13 people dying each day while waiting for a transplant.
However, challenges remain. Despite immune-suppressing drugs, the pig lung sparked inflammation that damaged the transplant. Scientists are continuing to refine the gene-editing process to make pig organs even more human-compatible. Recent advancements include an altered Bama Xiang pig lung that survived for 216 hours inside a brain-dead human recipient, as reported in Nature Medicine.
The successful pig lung transplant in China offers hope for a solution to the persistent shortage of human donor organs. As scientists continue to refine the gene-editing process, the potential for xenotransplantation to save lives and reduce waiting times grows. However, more research and trials are needed to ensure the safety and long-term success of these cross-species transplants.
