A Monkey’s Survival with a Pig Kidney Transplant Raises Hope for Future Organ Transplants
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have revealed that a monkey has successfully survived for two years following a pig kidney transplant. This achievement is being hailed as an important step forward in the field of transplantation.
The Experiment and its Findings
A team of experts from eGenesis biotechnology company and Harvard Medical School conducted an experiment where they transplanted kidneys from genetically modified Yucatan miniature pigs into macaques. The genetic modifications included the addition of human genes and the elimination of pig viruses to prevent organ rejection.
A total of 21 monkeys were chosen for the experiment, each receiving kidneys with varying levels of genetic modifications. The researchers found that the monkeys with kidneys modified to carry human genes and remove antigens had a sevenfold increase in survival rates, with an average survival time of 176 days. One monkey even survived an impressive 758 days, as reported in the journal Nature.
This significant breakthrough brings clinical testing of genetically modified pig kidneys for transplantation into humans closer to reality. Dr. Michael Curtis, CEO of eGenesis, described this achievement as a milestone that provides hope and promises better outcomes for individuals in need of organ transplants.
The Implications of Xenotransplantation
When human patients receive organs, tissues, or cells from animals, it is referred to as xenotransplantation. Pigs have been identified as promising donor animals due to their availability, gene editing technology, and the similarities between their organs and human organs.
For many years, scientists have been exploring the possibility of successful organ transplants from animals to humans. The primary challenge has been ensuring the efficient and safe functioning of animal organs in human patients, while avoiding rejection by the immune system.
However, gene editing technology has brought new hope to the field. The ability to genetically modify pig kidneys and eliminate rejection-causing antigens has led to unprecedented survival rates in this recent study.
Overall, this groundbreaking research has brought us one step closer to making organ transplants from genetically modified pig organs a reality for humans. It represents a remarkable achievement in the field of transplantation and medicine, offering hope and potentially life-saving solutions for countless individuals in need of organ transplants.
Source: Daily Mail
