The successful transplantation of a pig’s kidney into a monkey for over two years provides hope for the potential use of modified animal organs in humans.
In a groundbreaking study, scientists have achieved an “extraordinary milestone” by successfully transplanting a pig’s kidney into a monkey, which survived for over two years. This achievement has significant implications for the future of organ transplantation in humans, particularly for the more than 5,000 people in the UK alone who are currently waiting for a kidney transplant.
The study involved twenty-one macaque monkeys receiving organs from genetically modified Yucatan miniature pigs. To ensure the success of the transplant, scientists made 69 genetic modifications to the pig kidneys. These modifications included eliminating pig viruses and removing antigen coding genes that are typically attacked by the human immune system, leading to organ rejection. Additionally, modifications were made to target the porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) gene, which could potentially infect human cells.
The introduction of seven human genes into the pigs also played a crucial role in prolonging the survival of the transplanted kidneys. In fact, the organs that had both the removal of antigen genes and the addition of human genes saw a seven-fold increase in survival rates, with an average survival of 176 days. One monkey even survived for an impressive 758 days.
Dr. Michael Curtis, the CEO of eGenesis, a biotech firm involved in the study, described this achievement as an “extraordinary milestone” that brings the testing of genetically modified pig kidneys for humans one step closer. He believes that this breakthrough paves the way for better outcomes in life-saving organ transplants for countless individuals in need.
According to Harvard Medical School’s Professor Tatsuo Kawai, the results in humans are likely to be even more favorable than those seen in the monkeys. This provides further optimism for the potential long-term survival of modified animal organs in humans.
Pigs have been considered the most suitable donors for human organ transplantation due to their size and the similarities between their organs and human organs. However, the challenge has always been to prevent the immune system from rejecting the transplanted organs. Decades of research have focused on developing techniques to suppress the immune system and using gene editing to address this challenge.
Recent progress in gene editing and immune system suppression techniques has been encouraging. In fact, two people have already received pig hearts, with one surviving for two months and the other currently recovering and undergoing physical therapy. Furthermore, a genetically modified pig kidney was successfully transplanted into a brain-dead 58-year-old man, functioning for two months, which is the longest duration achieved so far.
In conclusion, the successful transplantation of a pig’s kidney into a monkey for over two years represents a significant step forward in the field of organ transplantation. This breakthrough provides hope for the thousands of people waiting for a kidney transplant and opens up possibilities for long-term survival with modified animal organs in humans. With ongoing advancements in gene editing and immune system suppression, the future of organ transplantation looks promising, offering improved outcomes and potentially saving countless lives.
