A genetically modified pig lung was transplanted into a brain-dead human recipient and functioned for nine days. Xenotransplantation aims to address the global organ shortage, with the World Health Organization estimating only up to 10% of need is met. Genetic modifications commonly remove certain pig genes and insert human genes to reduce rejection. Trials often begin in brain-dead recipients before any living-patient use. Previous pig-to-human transplants have included heart, kidneys, and liver, with some kidney recipients functioning for months. Experts caution results are preliminary and that substantial further work is required before pig lungs can be used clinically.
Xenotransplantation has become a hot area of research in recent years, with the heart, kidneys and liver among the organs that have been transplanted into humans from pigs. The latter are typically genetically modified by removing certain pig genes and inserting specific human genes, to reduce rejection of the organs by the recipient's body. Studies are often initially carried out on brain dead human recipients before, in some cases, being used in living patients.
Dr Justin Chan, a lung transplant surgeon for the NYU Langone Transplant Institute who was not involved in the work, described the study as exciting and promising work, but said the report concerned only one patient and was a qualified success. These lungs are not able to independently sustain a patient, he added. Andrew Fisher, a professor of respiratory transplant medicine at Newcastle University, agreed. This work is very welcome in furthering our understanding, but it marks an incremental step forward.
#xenotransplantation #pig-to-human-transplant #lung-transplant #organ-shortage #genetic-modification
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