A team of scientists at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China has successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human patient for nine days, marking a significant step forward in xenotransplantation. The experiment showed promise but also highlighted the challenges and complexities involved in transplanting organs from non-human animals.
The goal of the experiment was not to achieve a long-term survival but to observe how the patient’s immune system responded to the transplanted organ. The donor pig, known as a six-gene-edited Bama miniature pig, had undergone rigorous disinfection protocols and genetic modifications aimed at minimizing the immune response.
Initially, all seemed well, with no immediate signs of hyperacute rejection. However, by 24 hours after the transplant, severe swelling was observed, and antibody-mediated rejection damaged the tissue further on days three and six. Despite this, some recovery took place by day nine, but the experiment had run its course.
The lungs pose a unique challenge in transplantation due to their immediate contact with air from outside the body, requiring effective defense mechanisms against airborne pathogens and particles. The researchers demonstrated that they could transplant a pig lung into a human patient in a way that circumvents hyperacute rejection, an important first step.
While further development and research are needed, the study provides crucial insights into the immune, physiological, and genetic barriers that must be overcome to refine the approach to lung xenotransplantation. The researchers emphasize the need for optimizing immunosuppressive regimens, refining genetic modifications, enhancing lung preservation strategies, and assessing long-term graft function.
This breakthrough paves the way for further innovations in the field of xenotransplantation, which aims to address the shortage of suitable human donor organs. While it’s not a permanent solution, xenotransplantation offers a “bridge” solution until more permanent solutions are developed.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/pig-lung-transplanted-into-a-human-in-major-scientific-first