Breakthrough: World's First Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Transplant
In a remarkable feat of medical innovation, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital have accomplished a historic milestone – the successful transplantation of a gene-edited pig kidney into a living human patient. This momentous event marks a significant step forward in the quest to address the chronic shortage of human organs available for transplantation.
The 62-year-old recipient, who was suffering from end-stage kidney disease, received the kidney from a genetically engineered Yucatan miniature pig developed by the biotechnology company eGenesis. The pig organ underwent a remarkable transformation, with a total of 69 gene edits designed to enhance its compatibility with the human recipient and minimize the risk of rejection.
The changes to the pig's genome were of three distinct types: knockouts of three genes involved in the production of glycan antigens, which can trigger an immune response; the insertion of seven human transgenes that regulate immunity, coagulation, and complement pathways; and the inactivation of porcine endogenous retroviruses, preventing their transmission and integration into the recipient's body.
This breakthrough in xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs from animals to humans, has long been considered a potential solution to the chronic shortage of human organs. However, progress in this field has been slow, with only a few successful examples of xenotransplants surviving for a few months in non-human primates.
The eGenesis pig kidney transplant is a significant milestone, as it represents the first time a gene-edited pig organ has been successfully transplanted into a living human patient. The recipient's recovery is being closely monitored, and the kidney is currently functioning as expected, with no signs of rejection.
This achievement builds on the work of other researchers, such as those at Revivicor, a subsidiary of United Therapeutics, who have developed genetically modified pigs with 10 genetic modifications to prevent organ overgrowth, blood clots, and rejection.
The successful pig kidney transplant has opened the door to new possibilities in the field of organ transplantation. eGenesis is also co-developing human-compatible porcine livers as an ex vivo perfusion system to support patients with liver failure, further expanding the potential applications of this technology.
As the long-term follow-up continues, the scientific community and the public at large eagerly await the insights that will emerge from this groundbreaking milestone. The potential to alleviate the organ shortage and save countless lives through the use of gene-edited animal organs holds immense promise, and this first successful transplant represents a significant step forward in realizing that vision.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-024-02223-1
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