Genetically modified pig kidney successfully transplanted into a human
Miscellaneous / / January 21, 2022
Doctors hope that in the near future it will be possible to solve the problem of the lack of organs for transplantation and save many lives.
Two genetically modified pig kidneys were successfully transplanted into a brain-dead recipient. This operation proved for the first time that non-human organs could be adapted for use in patients in need of transplantation.
The transplant was carried out by a team of doctors from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In the articleFirst clinical-grade porcine kidney xenotransplant using a human decadent model magazine The American Journal of Transplantation, they explained that such an operation was the first performed using a clinical grade organ suitable for direct therapeutic use.
One of the biggest obstacles to such a transplant is due to the fact that the human immune system is wired to detect and reject foreign material. To get around this, previous experiments used genetically engineered pig kidneys lacking a sugar molecule called alpha-gal. It is found on the surface of pig organs and is easily recognized by the human body as foreign.
Although its neutralization prevented kidney rejection for up to 54 hours, the researchers have now improved this approach by introducing ten more different genetic modifications to the organ.
These changes led to the loss of three porcine carbohydrate antigens, as well as the growth hormone receptor gene. In addition, a number of human anticoagulant and immunoregulatory genes have been inserted, making the organs more compatible with the human body.
The modified kidneys were transplanted into a 57-year-old patient named Jim Parsons. He had a motorcycle accident, after which the doctors declared brain dead. His family gave the doctors permission to perform an experimental transplant procedure.
By words the authors of the study, the organs were not rejected by the patient's body and remained viable for a full 77 hours. They also noted that the blood vessels in the kidneys were able to successfully withstand blood pressure. human, which is significantly higher than that of pigs, and that neither porcine cells nor viruses.
Ultimately, the aim of this study was to develop a preclinical model xenotransplantation to test the safety and feasibility of the approach, thus paving the way for future clinical trials.
As a result of the transplant, the researchers were able to confirm that the patient's kidneys began to function, releasing urine. Scientists still have a long way to go before xenotransplantation can be applied to real patients. However, the researchers hope that their work will one day lead to a significant increase in the availability of vital organs.
Jim Parsons' ex-wife Julie O'Hara added: "Jim would like to save as many people as possible by his death, and if he knew that he could potentially save thousands and thousands of people by doing this, he would have no hesitation."
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