A team of Chinese scientists has successfully transplanted a genetically engineered pig lung into a human patient, marking a significant breakthrough in xenotransplantation.
In an experiment that opens the door for organs on demand, the researchers inserted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead 39-year-old male who had suffered a brain hemorrhage. The study demonstrated the feasibility of using pig lungs for transplantation and showed that the lung maintained viability and functionality for nine days without major rejection or infection.
The pig lung was genetically modified in six genes to remove substances that provoke an immune response and insert human genes to make the organ more compatible with the human body. However, there were signs of the patient’s immune system reacting against the organ, causing some lung damage, which started to improve towards the end of the experiment.
This breakthrough is hailed as a significant step forward in using animal organs for transplantation, addressing the critical shortage of lungs for patients waiting for a transplant. The study’s findings have the potential to provide new alternatives to the shortage of suitable donor lungs, with approximately 150 patients awaiting a lung transplant in Britain each year.
The use of pig organs is considered ideal due to their size, rapid growth rate, and large litters. Genetic editing tools like Crispr have enabled successful xenotransplantations in recent years, paving the way for this innovative approach. The success of this experiment marks a milestone in translational medicine, bringing us closer to clinical translation and potentially saving countless lives.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/25/pig-lung-transplanted-into-human-for-first-time