- Two research groups have successfully implanted genetically modified pig kidneys into human recipients.
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine found that transplanted pig kidneys produced urine and effectively performed life-sustaining kidney functions such as waste filtration.
- A separate team at New York University Langone Health achieved a significant breakthrough by having a genetically engineered pig kidney function effectively for a record 32 days within a brain-dead human recipient.
- These groundbreaking advancements in the field of xenotransplantation signal promising strides toward addressing the ongoing organ shortage crisis.
About 37 million American adults have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and some of them progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) where their kidneys fail.
Kidney transplants are the best treatment for end-stage kidney disease, but only around 25,000 people receive transplants each year in the United States.
This scarcity of donor kidneys means that nearly 40% of individuals on transplant waiting lists die within five years.
To address this, scientists are exploring xenotransplantation, using organs from animals such as pigs for human transplants.
Two separate research teams have reported recent developments in the transplantation of pig kidneys into humans. These advancements are significant milestones in the field of xenotransplantation.
A research team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine discovered that transplanted pig kidneys produced urine and effectively filtered waste in a human recipient, providing crucial life-sustaining kidney function.
This breakthrough was detailed in a research letter published in
In their study, researchers experimented by placing pig kidneys into a deceased human who had been declared brain dead. The pig kidneys had been genetically modified to be more compatible with human physiology.
The recipients of the pig kidneys were…
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