Genetically Edited Pig Kidney Transplants Thrive in China

Chinese researchers have achieved significant milestones in the field of xenotransplantation, bringing the prospect of animal-to-human organ transplants closer to reality. A groundbreaking surgery has resulted in a Chinese patient becoming the third person globally to successfully live with a gene-edited pig kidney.

The same research team responsible for the kidney transplant has also reported an experiment involving the implantation of a pig liver into a brain-dead individual, offering hope for potential future applications of pig livers in transplantation.

Xenotransplantation: Overcoming Organ Shortage

Scientists are actively engaged in genetically modifying pigs to make their organs more compatible with human recipients, aiming to alleviate the critical shortage of available organs for transplantation. Previous attempts at xenotransplantation, such as two pig hearts and two pig kidneys transplanted in the U.S., proved short-lived. However, recent advancements have shown promise, with two additional pig kidney recipients thriving — an Alabama woman who received a transplant in November 2023 and a New Hampshire man who underwent the procedure in January 2024. A clinical trial examining xenotransplantation is scheduled to commence in the U.S. shortly.

Success of Pig Kidney Transplant

Nearly three weeks after the kidney surgery, the Chinese patient is reported to be doing very well, and the implanted pig kidney is functioning effectively. Dr. Lin Wang, from Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi'an, shared these positive updates during a briefing this week. The patient remains hospitalized for ongoing testing and monitoring.

Chinese media outlets have identified the recipient as a 69-year-old woman diagnosed with kidney failure eight years ago.

Exploring Pig Liver Transplantation

Dr. Wang and his team are now focused on exploring the possibility of transplanting pig livers. Their research, published in the journal Nature, revealed that a pig liver transplanted into a brain-dead individual survived for 10 days without any early signs of rejection. The pig liver produced bile and albumin, crucial indicators of basic organ function, although not at the same levels as human livers.

Dr. Wang speculates that even limited functionality of the pig liver could be sufficient to provide support to a failing human liver, offering a potential "bridge" solution in cases of severe liver damage.

Comparison with US Research

In the U.S., surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania attempted a similar "bridge" support approach last year by externally attaching a pig liver to a brain-dead human body to filter blood, akin to dialysis for failing kidneys. eGenesis, a U.S.-based pig developer, is actively studying this approach.

In contrast to the U.S. study, Dr. Wang's team in China implanted the pig liver near the human liver, raising questions about the comparability of the results. Dr. Parsia Vagefi, a liver transplant surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center who was not involved in the research, acknowledged the significance of the findings but emphasized that further investigation is needed to fully understand the implications.

Ongoing Research and Future Prospects

Dr. Wang's team has since replaced the human liver of another brain-dead person with a pig liver and is currently analyzing the outcome. Reports indicate that another Chinese hospital successfully transplanted a pig liver into a living patient last year after removing a cancerous portion of his own liver, but the results of this experiment remain unclear.

The ongoing research in China and the U.S. signifies a promising step towards addressing the critical need for organ transplants and improving healthcare outcomes for patients awaiting life-saving procedures.