Surgeons in New York have successfully transplanted into a human—for the first time in the world—a kidney that had grown in the body of a genetically modified pig. The organ functioned normally, which may pave the way for a new source of animal-derived organs for transplantation.
Although several questions remain unanswered regarding the long-term effects of such a transplant, Experts consider this achievement to be a milestone in the field of xenotransplantation (transplantation between different species of living organisms). The surgery took place at New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center, according to *The New York Times*, and the medical team that performed it, led by Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, has not yet published a paper on the subject in a medical journal.
The kidney came from a pig that had been genetically modified so that the organ would not be rejected by the human body. The organ was not transplanted in the usual way, but was attached via blood vessels externally, outside the abdomen, to the upper part of the leg of a brain-dead man who was on life support and who had previously been registered as an organ donor. The kidney began producing urine and creatinine almost immediately.
Montgomery stated that, since the organ functioned normally when attached outside the body, it will most likely work just as well if transplanted normally. “Things went better than expected. It looked just like any other transplant I’ve used from a living donor. Many kidneys from deceased donors don’t work right away and take days or weeks to start functioning. This one worked immediately.”.
Dori Segev, a professor of transplant surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said: “We need to learn more about the organ’s longevity. But this is a huge step forward. It’s a very, very significant achievement.”.
Scientists have long been trying to grow organs in pigs that are suitable for transplantation into humans, as there are long waiting lists for various organs (kidneys, heart, lungs, liver). Largely due to the shortage of kidneys available for transplantation, the vast majority of patients on dialysis are unable to receive new organs.
The prospect of using pig organs is expected to raise bioethical issues, particularly regarding whether animals are being exploited by humans. Thus, while some doctors hope that it will only be a matter of a few months before pig-to-human kidney transplants begin, others believe that more time is needed. Among other things, there are also concerns about swine viruses that could infect humans.
