A 53-year-old man has made history by being the first person to receive two kidneys and a whole liver from a genetically modified pig. His organs functioned well for almost five days without signs of rejection in the first 24 hours, a significant step forward in medical science, according to a recent study published in Med.
Typically, xenotransplantation—the process of transplanting animal organs into humans—has involved single organs. While some patients have received pig hearts or kidneys, this case marks the first time a complete liver has been transplanted alongside kidneys. Dr. Xuyong Sun, who led the procedure at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in China, noted that such multi-organ transplants are quite complex and less common.
Dr. Leonardo Riella, a physician scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, explains that coordinating multiple organ transplants increases the risk of complications. Patients requiring several transplants often face serious health issues, making this procedure even more groundbreaking.
Dr. Wayne Hawthorne from the University of Sydney remarks that this study opens up new possibilities for multi-organ xenotransplantation. There’s an ongoing shortage of human donor organs, which is why scientists are exploring pig organs as substitutes.
The patient had severe chronic kidney disease and significant brain damage when the study began. His liver remained healthy, and the organs came from a specially modified pig. Scientists made six genetic edits to the pig’s genome—adding three human genes and removing three pig genes to lower the chances of organ rejection.
Remarkably, signs of functioning appeared quickly: within 19 hours, the pig liver began secreting bile, and the man’s elevated waste product levels returned to normal. However, by 36 hours post-operation, indications of rejection emerged. The man’s immune system started to replace pig cells with human cells in the new organs, leading to tissue concerns.
The study also pointed to elevated levels of S100A12+ immune cells in the transplanted organs, which may play a role in inflammation. Researchers are considering drugs that could target these cells to help mitigate long-term rejection risks.
This case highlights significant advancements in transplant technology and raises hope for those awaiting organ transplants. For further insights into organ transplantation and genetic modifications, you can explore reports from trusted sources like NIH and World Health Organization.
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