US surgeons have achieved a significant milestone in the field of cross-species organ transplantation by successfully maintaining a genetically modified pig kidney in a brain-dead patient for a record 32 days. This breakthrough procedure brings hope to bridging the gap in organ donation and reducing the long waiting list for organ transplants. The experiment, part of ongoing research in the area of xenotransplantation, used bodies donated for scientific purposes to test the procedure.
With over 103,000 people waiting for organs in the United States, including 88,000 individuals in need of kidneys, the success of this experiment is a significant development. The procedure involved a genetically edited pig kidney being transplanted into a human recipient who was brain dead. The kidney continued to function well during the entire 32-day period, demonstrating the viability of this approach.
The genetically modified pig kidney had only one genetic modification, focused on a gene associated with “hyperacute rejection.” This modification prevented immediate rejection of the organ by the human circulatory system. The researchers also embedded the pig’s thymus gland, responsible for educating the immune system, into the kidney’s outer layer. This approach allowed the host’s immune system to recognize the pig’s cells as its own, preventing delayed rejection.
The patient’s own kidneys were removed, and the pig kidney was transplanted. The new kidney immediately began producing urine, and monitoring revealed optimal levels of waste product, indicating successful function. Importantly, no evidence of porcine cytomegalovirus, which can lead to organ failure, was detected after the transplant.
This achievement paves the way for further studies and eventual clinical trials. The success of this procedure brings hope to individuals awaiting organ transplants and highlights the potential of cross-species transplantation to alleviate the shortage of organs for transplantation.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Now This News
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