A genetically modified pig kidney was removed from a 54-year-old transplant patient Lisa Pisano of New Jersey, after it started to lose its function. NYU Langone Health announced on Friday (May 31) that Pisano is now stable and has resumed dialysis.

Pisano received a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) on April 4. LVAD is a mechanical pump that helps a weakened heart pump blood throughout the body and is often used for people with severe heart failure when medication alone isn't enough.

This was followed by the kidney and thymus gland transplant from a gene-edited pig on April 12.

This marked the first instance of an organ transplant in a patient with a mechanical heart pump and the second known gene-edited pig kidney transplant into a living person. It was also the first to include the thymus in addition to a kidney transplant.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-faces-escalating-std-crisis-with-surging-syphilis-rates-and-rising-infant-deaths-warns-health-officials-727798">US faces escalating STD crisis with surging syphilis rates and rising infant deaths, warns health officials</a>

Even after initial signs of recovery, Pisano's new kidney failed after 47 days.

Dr Robert Montgomery, who led the transplant, cited "unique challenges" in managing both the heart pump and the new kidney. He noted that Pisano's blood pressure dropped multiple times, affecting the kidney's blood flow.

"The blood pressure she could generate from the LVAD was not adequate to provide optimal perfusion to the kidney, causing cumulative reduction in her kidney function," Montgomery explained.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-develop-robotic-third-thumb-that-can-greatly-boost-human-efficiency-727789">Scientists develop robotic 'third thumb' that can greatly boost human efficiency</a>

Montgomery stated, "On balance, the kidney was no longer contributing enough to justify continuing the immunosuppression regimen."

A biopsy of the kidney showed no signs of rejection. However, the kidney suffered "significant injury" from insufficient blood flow. NYU is planning to study the removed kidney to gain further insights into its performance in a human body.

<h2>'Lisa is a pioneer and a hero'</h2>

Montgomery praised Pisano's courage, stating, “Lisa is a pioneer and a hero in the effort to create a sustainable option for people waiting for an organ transplant. Her strength and bravery in the face of adversity inspires and drives us as we continue pursuing the hope and promise of xenotransplantation."&nbsp;

Watch | Ultra-processed food could damage your brain, reveals Harvard study

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The first patient to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, Richard “Rick” Slayman, passed away nearly two months after his transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital. But his death was not directly attributed to the experimental procedure.

The organ shortage in the US is critical, with over 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list, the majority needing kidneys. Each day, 17 people die waiting for an organ.

In 2023, about 27,000 kidneys were transplanted, but nearly 89,000 people were still waiting.

(With inputs from agencies)

A genetically modified pig kidney was removed from a 54-year-old transplant patient Lisa Pisano of New Jersey, after it started to lose its function. NYU Langone Health announced on Friday (May 31) that Pisano is now stable and has resumed dialysis.

A genetically modified pig kidney was removed from a 54-year-old transplant patient Lisa Pisano of New Jersey, after it started to lose its function. NYU Langone Health announced on Friday (May 31) that Pisano is now stable and has resumed dialysis. Pisano received a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) on April 4. LVAD is a mechanical pump that helps a weakened heart pump blood throughout the body and is often used for people with severe heart failure when medication alone isn't enough. This was followed by the kidney and thymus gland transplant from a gene-edited pig on April 12. This marked the first instance of an organ transplant in a patient with a mechanical heart pump and the second known gene-edited pig kidney transplant into a living person. It was also the first to include the thymus in addition to a kidney transplant. Also Read | US faces escalating STD crisis with surging syphilis rates and rising infant deaths, warns health officials Even after initial signs of recovery, Pisano's new kidney failed after 47 days. Dr Robert Montgomery, who led the transplant, cited "unique challenges" in managing both the heart pump and the new kidney. He noted that Pisano's blood pressure dropped multiple times, affecting the kidney's blood flow. "The blood pressure she could generate from the LVAD was not adequate to provide optimal perfusion to the kidney, causing cumulative reduction in her kidney function," Montgomery explained. Also Read | Scientists develop robotic 'third thumb' that can greatly boost human efficiency Montgomery stated, "On balance, the kidney was no longer contributing enough to justify continuing the immunosuppression regimen." A biopsy of the kidney showed no signs of rejection. However, the kidney suffered "significant injury" from insufficient blood flow. NYU is planning to study the removed kidney to gain further insights into its performance in a human body. 'Lisa is a pioneer and a hero' Montgomery praised Pisano's courage, stating, “Lisa is a pioneer and a hero in the effort to create a sustainable option for people waiting for an organ transplant. Her strength and bravery in the face of adversity inspires and drives us as we continue pursuing the hope and promise of xenotransplantation." Watch | Ultra-processed food could damage your brain, reveals Harvard study × The first patient to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, Richard “Rick” Slayman, passed away nearly two months after his transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital. But his death was not directly attributed to the experimental procedure. The organ shortage in the US is critical, with over 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list, the majority needing kidneys. Each day, 17 people die waiting for an organ. In 2023, about 27,000 kidneys were transplanted, but nearly 89,000 people were still waiting. (With inputs from agencies)

Gene-edited pig kidney removed from woman patient after 47 days

The first ever person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant died approximately two months after undergoing the medical procedure, said his family and the hospital that performed his surgery in a statement on Saturday (May 11).

Richard “Rick” Slayman underwent the transplant in March this year at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The team of surgeons that performed the procedure at the hospital said that they were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Slayman and that they so far have no indication if it was a result of the recent transplant.

"Mass General is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr. Rick Slayman. We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant. Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Slayman’s family and loved ones as they remember an extraordinary person whose generosity and kindness touched all who knew him," the hospital wrote in a post on its official X account.

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Mass General is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr. Rick Slayman. We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant. Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his… <a href="https://t.co/I1dFqHZEmr">pic.twitter.com/I1dFqHZEmr</a>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-surgeons-transplant-pig-kidney-to-living-patient-for-first-time-702778">Also read:&nbsp;In a first, surgeons successfully transplant pig kidney to living patient</a>

The 62-year-old was suffering from end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) when he underwent the procedure on March 16.

He was also a Type 2 diabetic and had previously received a kidney transplant in the year 2018.

However, five years later, the organ began to fail and he had been on dialysis since then.

Slayman had okayed getting the pig kidney transplanted stating that it would not only help him but also generate hope for "the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive”.

Explaining the procedure carried out by the surgeons, the hospital had said that the pig kidney which was used in the transplant was genetically edited to ensure harmful pig genes were removed from the organ.

It said that certain human genes were also added to it in order to make it fit for the human body.

It is pertinent to note that recently&nbsp;pig hearts were transplanted into two patients in the United States. However, both survived only less than two months.

(With inputs from agencies)

The first ever person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant died approximately two months after undergoing the medical procedure, said his family and the hospital that performed his surgery in a statement on Saturday (May 11).

The first ever person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant died approximately two months after undergoing the medical procedure, said his family and the hospital that performed his surgery in a statement on Saturday (May 11). Richard “Rick” Slayman underwent the transplant in March this year at Massachusetts General Hospital. The team of surgeons that performed the procedure at the hospital said that they were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Slayman and that they so far have no indication if it was a result of the recent transplant. "Mass General is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr. Rick Slayman. We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant. Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Slayman’s family and loved ones as they remember an extraordinary person whose generosity and kindness touched all who knew him," the hospital wrote in a post on its official X account. Mass General is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr. Rick Slayman. We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant. Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his… pic.twitter.com/I1dFqHZEmr — MassGeneral News (@MassGeneralNews) May 11, 2024 × Also read: In a first, surgeons successfully transplant pig kidney to living patient The 62-year-old was suffering from end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) when he underwent the procedure on March 16. He was also a Type 2 diabetic and had previously received a kidney transplant in the year 2018. However, five years later, the organ began to fail and he had been on dialysis since then. Slayman had okayed getting the pig kidney transplanted stating that it would not only help him but also generate hope for "the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive”. Explaining the procedure carried out by the surgeons, the hospital had said that the pig kidney which was used in the transplant was genetically edited to ensure harmful pig genes were removed from the organ. It said that certain human genes were also added to it in order to make it fit for the human body. It is pertinent to note that recently pig hearts were transplanted into two patients in the United States. However, both survived only less than two months. (With inputs from agencies)

Man with transplanted pig kidney dies nearly two months after procedure

In a race against time, doctors at the NYU Langone Transplant Institute had a patient who was struggling with a combination of heart and kidney failure. But as fate would have hope emerged in the form of a landmark xenotransplantation surgery.

Xenotransplantation: Pig kidney transplanted into human

In China, doctors have successfully transplanted a pig's kidney with multiple gene edits into a brain-dead human recipient. The transplantation, as per reports, has been "working continuously for 13 days."

<h2>First time in China</h2>

This was the first of its kind operation in China and comes after similar transplants in the United States.

The procedure was done on March 25 by a team of doctors that only a couple of weeks back performed a successful pig liver transplant.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/role-reversal-humans-to-blame-shocking-study-reveals-humans-infect-animals-twice-as-much-704746">We are the infectors: Humans pass on viruses to animals twice than the other way around!</a>

"As of April 7, the transplanted kidney has been working continuously for 13 days,"&nbsp;Qin Weijun, director of the Air Force Medical University Xijing Hospital, told Science and Technology Daily on Monday.

"It is functioning well in the recipient's body and producing urine normally."

To do this, scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to add two human genes to the pig used in the transplant. Additionally, they removed three pig genes that can cause hyperacute rejection, said the university.

In both the cases — pig kidney and liver transplant — families of the patients agreed to the procedure to help advance medical science.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-surgeons-transplant-pig-kidney-to-living-patient-for-first-time-702778">In a first, surgeons successfully transplant pig kidney to living patient</a>

<h2>Why pig kidney transplants matter?</h2>

As per the South China Morning Post (SCMP), every year millions of patients in China suffer from end-stage kidney disease, for which the only solution is a kidney transplant. Yet, only about 10,000 transplants take place, reported the Air Force Medical University's Department of Urology in a WeChat post last week.

In such a scenario, xenogenic transplants, from one species to another, offer a solution. Pigs, who have similar metabolism&nbsp;and organ sizes as that of humans, are the first choice, as because of fears of higher risks of disease spreading, the US Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of monkeys.&nbsp;

However, there are some ethical concerns.

<h2>Ethical concerns over xenogenic transplants</h2>

These transplants, as per the report, come with an accelerated risk of acute rejection and the transfer of infectious diseases between the donor animal and humans.

Another concern raised by the animal rights movement is how these transplants ignore the rights of animals.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In China, doctors have successfully transplanted a pig's kidney with multiple gene edits into a brain-dead human recipient. The transplantation, as per reports, has been "working continuously for 13 days.

In China, doctors have successfully transplanted a pig's kidney with multiple gene edits into a brain-dead human recipient. The transplantation, as per reports, has been "working continuously for 13 days." First time in China This was the first of its kind operation in China and comes after similar transplants in the United States. The procedure was done on March 25 by a team of doctors that only a couple of weeks back performed a successful pig liver transplant. Also read | We are the infectors: Humans pass on viruses to animals twice than the other way around! "As of April 7, the transplanted kidney has been working continuously for 13 days," Qin Weijun, director of the Air Force Medical University Xijing Hospital, told Science and Technology Daily on Monday. "It is functioning well in the recipient's body and producing urine normally." To do this, scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to add two human genes to the pig used in the transplant. Additionally, they removed three pig genes that can cause hyperacute rejection, said the university. In both the cases — pig kidney and liver transplant — families of the patients agreed to the procedure to help advance medical science. Also read | In a first, surgeons successfully transplant pig kidney to living patient Why pig kidney transplants matter? As per the South China Morning Post (SCMP), every year millions of patients in China suffer from end-stage kidney disease, for which the only solution is a kidney transplant. Yet, only about 10,000 transplants take place, reported the Air Force Medical University's Department of Urology in a WeChat post last week. In such a scenario, xenogenic transplants, from one species to another, offer a solution. Pigs, who have similar metabolism and organ sizes as that of humans, are the first choice, as because of fears of higher risks of disease spreading, the US Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of monkeys. However, there are some ethical concerns. Ethical concerns over xenogenic transplants These transplants, as per the report, come with an accelerated risk of acute rejection and the transfer of infectious diseases between the donor animal and humans. Another concern raised by the animal rights movement is how these transplants ignore the rights of animals. (With inputs from agencies)

Doctors in China successfully transplant pig kidney into brain-dead human patient

Pig kidney transplanted into man: In a rare medical case, the first person who&nbsp;successfully received a kidney&nbsp;transplant from a genetically modified pig, was performing so well after the groundbreaking surgery that the hospital discharged him on Wednesday (April 3), just weeks after the operation.

The pig kidney transplant and its positive outcome represent the achievement of a major feat in the world of medicine and are likely to start an era of cross-species organ transplantation.

The doctors have earlier carried out two previous organ transplants in which the organs of genetically modified pigs have been given to humans. However, both cases failed. In the two cases, the heart of the genetically modified pigs was transplanted into humans, after which both patients failed to survive.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-the-hail-must-go-to-donor-says-delhi-doctor-involved-in-miracle-hand-transplant-surgery-698655">‘All the praise must go to donor,’ says Delhi doctor involved in ‘miracle’ hand transplant surgery</a>

The two patients had received the hearts of the pig and both failed to survive a few weeks after the transplant. In one patient, the signs indicated that the immune system had rejected the organ.&nbsp;

<h2>Doctors taste success with pig kidney transplant</h2>

The kidney of the pig, which was transplanted into 62-year-old Richard Slayman has been functioning well, removing waste from the blood, producing urine and balancing the fluids of the body, as per the doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“This moment — leaving the hospital today with one of the cleanest bills of health I’ve had in a long time — is one I wished would come for many years,” Slayman said, in a statement released by the hospital. &nbsp;“Now it’s a reality," he said.

The man claimed to have received “exceptional care” and also extended thanks to his nurses, physicians as well as all other well-wishers.

Watch:&nbsp;Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev undergoes emergency brain surgery; Indian PM wishes speedy recovery

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“Today marks a new beginning not just for me, but for them as well,” said Slayman.

Chief medical officer for the United Network for Organ Sharing, Dr David Klassen, who has been managing the organ transplant system of the nation, said that the surgery has increased the prospect of animal-to-human organ transplants, or xenotransplantation.

<h2>Pig kidney transplant patient leaves hospital</h2>

“Though much work remains to be done, I think the potential of this to benefit a large number of patients will be realized, and that was a question mark hovering over the field,” said Dr Klassen.

However, doubts still loom about whether the transplanted organ will be eventually rejected by&nbsp;Slayman's body, said Dr Klassen.&nbsp;

However, if it is ultimately successful, the operation will have to be replicated in various patients and it will be studied in different clinical trials before xenotransplants are made widely available.&nbsp;

He said that if these transplants are scaled up and integrated into the health care system, the doctors will face “daunting” logistical challenges, which include assurance of an adequate supply of organs from genetically engineered animals.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Pig kidney transplanted into man: In a rare medical case, the first person who successfully received a kidney transplant from a genetically modified pig, was performing so well after the groundbreaking surgery that the hospital discharged him on Wednesday (April 3), just weeks after the operation.

Pig kidney transplanted into man: In a rare medical case, the first person who successfully received a kidney transplant from a genetically modified pig, was performing so well after the groundbreaking surgery that the hospital discharged him on Wednesday (April 3), just weeks after the operation. The pig kidney transplant and its positive outcome represent the achievement of a major feat in the world of medicine and are likely to start an era of cross-species organ transplantation. The doctors have earlier carried out two previous organ transplants in which the organs of genetically modified pigs have been given to humans. However, both cases failed. In the two cases, the heart of the genetically modified pigs was transplanted into humans, after which both patients failed to survive. Also Read: ‘All the praise must go to donor,’ says Delhi doctor involved in ‘miracle’ hand transplant surgery The two patients had received the hearts of the pig and both failed to survive a few weeks after the transplant. In one patient, the signs indicated that the immune system had rejected the organ. Doctors taste success with pig kidney transplant The kidney of the pig, which was transplanted into 62-year-old Richard Slayman has been functioning well, removing waste from the blood, producing urine and balancing the fluids of the body, as per the doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital. “This moment — leaving the hospital today with one of the cleanest bills of health I’ve had in a long time — is one I wished would come for many years,” Slayman said, in a statement released by the hospital. “Now it’s a reality," he said. The man claimed to have received “exceptional care” and also extended thanks to his nurses, physicians as well as all other well-wishers. Watch: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev undergoes emergency brain surgery; Indian PM wishes speedy recovery “Today marks a new beginning not just for me, but for them as well,” said Slayman. Chief medical officer for the United Network for Organ Sharing, Dr David Klassen, who has been managing the organ transplant system of the nation, said that the surgery has increased the prospect of animal-to-human organ transplants, or xenotransplantation. Pig kidney transplant patient leaves hospital “Though much work remains to be done, I think the potential of this to benefit a large number of patients will be realized, and that was a question mark hovering over the field,” said Dr Klassen. However, doubts still loom about whether the transplanted organ will be eventually rejected by Slayman's body, said Dr Klassen. However, if it is ultimately successful, the operation will have to be replicated in various patients and it will be studied in different clinical trials before xenotransplants are made widely available. He said that if these transplants are scaled up and integrated into the health care system, the doctors will face “daunting” logistical challenges, which include assurance of an adequate supply of organs from genetically engineered animals. (With inputs from agencies)

Man with transplanted pig kidney is discharged from hospital in rare medical case

Pigs have so far had the misfortune of having their name used for the express purpose of calling a human (counterpart?) in not so nice way. But humankind may soon be indebted to pigs because of a breakthrough. Surgeons in the US, who transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a brain-dead patient, said on Wednesday (August 16) that the organ was still working after a record 32 days.

The breakthrough is a significant step in the quest to close the organ donation gap.

Watch | Big medical breakthrough as pig-to-human kidney transplant succeeds for a month

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The latest experimental procedure is part of a growing field of research aimed at advancing cross-species transplants, testing the technique on bodies that have been donated for science.

AFP reported that there are more than 103,000 people on the waitlist for organs in the US alone. Out of these,&nbsp;88,000 need kidneys.

"We have a genetically edited pig kidney surviving for over a month in a human," Robert Montgomery, director of the New York University Langone Transplant Institute, told reporters.

"I think there's a very compelling story that exists at this point that I think should give further assurances about starting some initial studies... in living humans."

Montgomery carried out the first genetically modified pig kidney transplant to a human in September 2021, followed by a similar procedure in November 2021.

There were other cases too but all these experiments ran for two or three days only.

In previous transplants, body parts with up to 10 genetic modifications were used. But the latest had just one.

The modification was made in a gene involved in so-called "hyperacute rejection'. This would otherwise occur within a minute when an animal organ is connected to a human's circulatory system.

The NYU Langone team knocked out the gene responsible for a biomolecule called alpha-gel. It is a prime target for roving human antibodies. By this method, the Langone team was able to stop the organ from being immediately rejected by the body.

"We've now gathered more evidence to show that, at least in kidneys, just eliminating the gene that triggers a hyperacute rejection may be enough along with clinically approved immunosuppressive drugs to successfully manage the transplant in a human for optimal performance -- potentially in the long-term," said Montgomery.

The surgeons also embedded the pig's thymus gland in the kidney's outer layer. The thymus gland lies around the neck and it 'educates' the immune system.

Adam Griesemer, of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, added that this practice allowed immune cells in the host's body to learn to recognise the pig's cells as its own, preventing a delayed rejection.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/form-of-gene-therapy-may-offer-one-off-treatment-for-severe-alcohol-addiction-finds-study-625858">Form of gene therapy may offer ‘one-off’ treatment for severe alcohol addiction, finds study</a>

Both kidneys of the patient were removed. After this, one pig kidney was transplanted. It immediately started producing urine. When the effects of the procedure were monitored further, it revealed that levels of creatinine, which is a waste product, were at optimal levels. Moreover, there was no evidence of rejection.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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&nbsp;

Pigs have so far had the misfortune of having their name used for the express purpose of calling a human (counterpart?) in not so nice way. But humankind may soon be indebted to pigs because of a breakthrough.

Pigs have so far had the misfortune of having their name used for the express purpose of calling a human (counterpart?) in not so nice way. But humankind may soon be indebted to pigs because of a breakthrough. Surgeons in the US, who transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a brain-dead patient, said on Wednesday (August 16) that the organ was still working after a record 32 days. The breakthrough is a significant step in the quest to close the organ donation gap. Watch | Big medical breakthrough as pig-to-human kidney transplant succeeds for a month × The latest experimental procedure is part of a growing field of research aimed at advancing cross-species transplants, testing the technique on bodies that have been donated for science. AFP reported that there are more than 103,000 people on the waitlist for organs in the US alone. Out of these, 88,000 need kidneys. "We have a genetically edited pig kidney surviving for over a month in a human," Robert Montgomery, director of the New York University Langone Transplant Institute, told reporters. "I think there's a very compelling story that exists at this point that I think should give further assurances about starting some initial studies... in living humans." Montgomery carried out the first genetically modified pig kidney transplant to a human in September 2021, followed by a similar procedure in November 2021. There were other cases too but all these experiments ran for two or three days only. In previous transplants, body parts with up to 10 genetic modifications were used. But the latest had just one. The modification was made in a gene involved in so-called "hyperacute rejection'. This would otherwise occur within a minute when an animal organ is connected to a human's circulatory system. The NYU Langone team knocked out the gene responsible for a biomolecule called alpha-gel. It is a prime target for roving human antibodies. By this method, the Langone team was able to stop the organ from being immediately rejected by the body. "We've now gathered more evidence to show that, at least in kidneys, just eliminating the gene that triggers a hyperacute rejection may be enough along with clinically approved immunosuppressive drugs to successfully manage the transplant in a human for optimal performance -- potentially in the long-term," said Montgomery. The surgeons also embedded the pig's thymus gland in the kidney's outer layer. The thymus gland lies around the neck and it 'educates' the immune system. Adam Griesemer, of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, added that this practice allowed immune cells in the host's body to learn to recognise the pig's cells as its own, preventing a delayed rejection. Also Read | Form of gene therapy may offer ‘one-off’ treatment for severe alcohol addiction, finds study Both kidneys of the patient were removed. After this, one pig kidney was transplanted. It immediately started producing urine. When the effects of the procedure were monitored further, it revealed that levels of creatinine, which is a waste product, were at optimal levels. Moreover, there was no evidence of rejection. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: Pig kidney functions successfully in human body for more than a month

Doctors in Alabama successfully transplanted a pair of kidneys from a genetically modified pig into a brain dead man.&nbsp;

The operation was conducted at the University of Alabama in the United States. The man named Jim Parsons, 57, was declared brain dead after he suffered a bike accident in September last year.

Parsons family gave the go-ahead to the doctors to conduct the operation as the patient's kidneys were removed and two kidneys from a genetically modified pig were embedded into his body.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-man-gets-genetically-modified-pig-heart-in-transplant-443747">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;In a first, man gets genetically modified pig heart in transplant</a>

Reports said the transplanted kidneys began to function immediately after the operation was conducted.

Earlier this month surgeons had successfully transplanted a &nbsp;genetically modified pig's heart into a man. David Bennett became the first man to undergo the unique heart transplant.

Watch: Pig's heart transplanted into a human

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Bennett's son called the operation a "miracle" &nbsp;as a team of surgeons at the University of Maryland conducted the operation on January 7.

The operation demonstrated the success of pig-to-human heart transplants as doctors cheered amid a shortage of donor organs.

According to reports, there are 100,000 US citizens waiting for organ donations currently.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;

Doctors in Alabama successfully transplanted a pair of kidneys from a genetically modified pig into a brain dead man. The operation was conducted at the University of Alabama in the United States.

Doctors in Alabama successfully transplanted a pair of kidneys from a genetically modified pig into a brain dead man. The operation was conducted at the University of Alabama in the United States. The man named Jim Parsons, 57, was declared brain dead after he suffered a bike accident in September last year. Parsons family gave the go-ahead to the doctors to conduct the operation as the patient's kidneys were removed and two kidneys from a genetically modified pig were embedded into his body. Also Read: In a first, man gets genetically modified pig heart in transplant Reports said the transplanted kidneys began to function immediately after the operation was conducted. Earlier this month surgeons had successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig's heart into a man. David Bennett became the first man to undergo the unique heart transplant. Watch: Pig's heart transplanted into a human Bennett's son called the operation a "miracle" as a team of surgeons at the University of Maryland conducted the operation on January 7. The operation demonstrated the success of pig-to-human heart transplants as doctors cheered amid a shortage of donor organs. According to reports, there are 100,000 US citizens waiting for organ donations currently. (With inputs from Agencies)

In a first, two kidneys from genetically modified pig transplanted into brain dead man

Surgeons in New York have successfully attached a kidney grown in a genetically altered pig to a human patient and found that the organ worked normally, a scientific breakthrough that one day may yield a vast new supply of organs for severely ill patients.

Although many questions remain to be answered about the long-term consequences of the transplant, which involved a brain-dead patient followed only for 54 hours, experts in the field said the procedure represented a milestone.

“We need to know more about the longevity of the organ,” said Dr. Dorry Segev, professor of transplant surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who was not involved in the research. Nevertheless, he said: “This is a huge breakthrough. It’s a big, big deal.”

Researchers have long sought to grow organs in pigs suitable for transplantation into humans. A steady stream of organs — which could eventually include hearts, lungs and livers — would offer a lifeline to the more than 100,000 Americans on transplant waiting lists, including the 90,240 who need a kidney. Twelve people on the waiting lists die each day.

An even larger number of Americans with kidney failure — more than a half million — depend on grueling dialysis treatments to survive. In large part because of the scarcity of human organs, the vast majority of dialysis patients do not qualify for transplants, which are reserved for those most likely to thrive after the procedure.

The surgery, carried out at NYU Langone Health, was first reported by USA Today on Tuesday. The research has not yet been peer-reviewed nor published in a medical journal.

The transplanted kidney was obtained from a pig genetically engineered to grow an organ unlikely to be rejected by the human body. In a close approximation of an actual transplant procedure, the kidney was attached to a person who had suffered brain death and was maintained on a ventilator.

The kidney, attached to blood vessels in the upper leg outside the abdomen, started functioning normally, making urine and the waste product creatinine “almost immediately,” according to Dr. Robert Montgomery, the director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who performed the procedure in September.

Although the organ was not implanted in the body, problems with so-called xenotransplants — from animals like primates and pigs — usually occur at the interface of the human blood supply and the organ, where human blood flows through pig vessels, experts said.

The fact that the organ functioned outside the body is a strong indication that it will work in the body, Montgomery said.

“It was better than I think we even expected,” he said. “It just looked like any transplant I’ve ever done from a living donor. A lot of kidneys from deceased people don’t work right away, and take days or weeks to start. This worked immediately.”

Last year, 39,717 residents of the United States received an organ transplant, the majority of them — 23,401 — receiving kidneys, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a nonprofit that coordinates the nation’s organ procurement efforts.

Genetically engineered pigs “could potentially be a sustainable, renewable source of organs — the solar and wind of organ availability,” Montgomery said.

Reactions to the news among transplantation experts ranged from cautiously optimistic to wildly effusive, though all acknowledged the procedure represented a sea change. The prospect of raising pigs in order to harvest their organs for humans is bound to raise questions about animal welfare and exploitation, though an estimated 100 million pigs already are killed in the United States each year for food.

While some surgeons speculated that it could be just months before genetically engineered pigs’ kidneys are transplanted into living human beings, others said there was still much work to be done.

“This is really cutting-edge translational surgery and transplantation that is on the brink of being able to do it in living human beings,” said Dr. Amy Friedman, a former transplant surgeon and chief medical officer of LiveOnNY, the organ procurement organization in the greater New York area.

The group was involved in the selection and identification of the brain-dead patient receiving the experimental procedure. The patient was a registered organ donor, and because the organs were not suitable for transplantation, the patient’s family agreed to permit research to test the experimental transplant procedure.

Friedman said she envisioned using hearts, livers and other organs grown in pigs, as well. “It’s truly mind-boggling to think of how many transplants we might be able to offer,” she said, adding, “You’d have to breed the pigs, of course.”

Other experts were more reserved, saying they wanted to see whether the results were reproducible and to review data collected by NYU Langone.

“There’s no question this is a tour de force, in that it’s hard to do and you have to jump through a lot of hoops,” said Dr. Jay A. Fishman, associate director of the transplantation center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Whether this particular study advances the field will depend on what data they collected and whether they share it, or whether it is a step just to show they can do it,” Fishman said. He urged humility “about what we know.”

Many hurdles remain before genetically engineered pigs’ organs can be used in living human beings, said Dr. David Klassen, chief medical officer of the United Network for Organ Sharing.

While he called the surgery “a watershed moment,” he warned that long-term rejection of organs occurs even when the donor kidney is well-matched, and “even when you’re not trying to cross species barriers.”

The kidney has functions in addition to clearing blood of toxins. And there are concerns about pig viruses infecting recipients, Klassen said: “It’s a complicated field, and to imagine that we know all of the things that are going to happen and all the problems that will arise is naive.”

Xenotransplantation, the process of grafting or transplanting organs or tissues between different species, has a long history. Efforts to use the blood and skin of animals in humans go back hundreds of years.

In the 1960s, chimpanzee kidneys were transplanted into a small number of human patients. Most died shortly afterward; the longest a patient lived was nine months. In 1983, a baboon heart was transplanted into an infant girl known as Baby Faye. She died 20 days later.

Pigs offered advantages over primates for organ procurement — they are easier to raise, reach maturation faster, and achieve adult human size in six months. Pig heart valves are routinely transplanted into humans, and some patients with diabetes have received pig pancreas cells. Pig skin has also been used as temporary grafts for burn patients.

The combination of two new technologies — gene editing and cloning — has yielded genetically altered pig organs. Pig hearts and kidneys have been transplanted successfully into monkeys and baboons, but safety concerns precluded their use in humans.

“The field up to now has been stuck in the preclinical primate stage, because going from primate to living human is perceived as a big jump,” Montgomery said.

The kidney used in the new procedure was obtained by knocking out a pig gene that encodes a sugar molecule that elicits an aggressive human rejection response. The pig was genetically engineered by Revivicor and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a source for human therapeutics.

Montgomery and his team also transplanted the pig’s thymus, a gland that is involved in the immune system, in an effort to ward off immune reactions to the kidney.

After attaching the kidney to blood vessels in the upper leg, the surgeons covered it with a protective shield so they could observe it and take tissue samples over the 54-hour study period. Urine and creatinine levels were normal, Montgomery and his colleagues found, and no signs of rejection were detected during more than two days of observation.

“There didn’t seem to be any kind of incompatibility between the pig kidney and the human that would make it not work,” Montgomery said. “There wasn’t immediate rejection of the kidney.”

The long-term prospects are still unknown, he acknowledged. But “this allowed us to answer a really important question: Is there something that’s going to happen when we move this from a primate to a human that is going to be disastrous?”

Surgeons in New York have successfully attached a kidney grown in a genetically altered pig to a human patient and found that the organ worked normally, a scientific breakthrough that one day may yield a vast new supply of organs for severely ill patients.

Surgeons in New York have successfully attached a kidney grown in a genetically altered pig to a human patient and found that the organ worked normally, a scientific breakthrough that one day may yield a vast new supply of organs for severely ill patients. Although many questions remain to be answered about the long-term consequences of the transplant, which involved a brain-dead patient followed only for 54 hours, experts in the field said the procedure represented a milestone. “We need to know more about the longevity of the organ,” said Dr. Dorry Segev, professor of transplant surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who was not involved in the research. Nevertheless, he said: “This is a huge breakthrough. It’s a big, big deal.” Researchers have long sought to grow organs in pigs suitable for transplantation into humans. A steady stream of organs — which could eventually include hearts, lungs and livers — would offer a lifeline to the more than 100,000 Americans on transplant waiting lists, including the 90,240 who need a kidney. Twelve people on the waiting lists die each day. An even larger number of Americans with kidney failure — more than a half million — depend on grueling dialysis treatments to survive. In large part because of the scarcity of human organs, the vast majority of dialysis patients do not qualify for transplants, which are reserved for those most likely to thrive after the procedure. The surgery, carried out at NYU Langone Health, was first reported by USA Today on Tuesday. The research has not yet been peer-reviewed nor published in a medical journal. The transplanted kidney was obtained from a pig genetically engineered to grow an organ unlikely to be rejected by the human body. In a close approximation of an actual transplant procedure, the kidney was attached to a person who had suffered brain death and was maintained on a ventilator. The kidney, attached to blood vessels in the upper leg outside the abdomen, started functioning normally, making urine and the waste product creatinine “almost immediately,” according to Dr. Robert Montgomery, the director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who performed the procedure in September. Although the organ was not implanted in the body, problems with so-called xenotransplants — from animals like primates and pigs — usually occur at the interface of the human blood supply and the organ, where human blood flows through pig vessels, experts said. The fact that the organ functioned outside the body is a strong indication that it will work in the body, Montgomery said. “It was better than I think we even expected,” he said. “It just looked like any transplant I’ve ever done from a living donor. A lot of kidneys from deceased people don’t work right away, and take days or weeks to start. This worked immediately.” Last year, 39,717 residents of the United States received an organ transplant, the majority of them — 23,401 — receiving kidneys, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a nonprofit that coordinates the nation’s organ procurement efforts. Genetically engineered pigs “could potentially be a sustainable, renewable source of organs — the solar and wind of organ availability,” Montgomery said. Reactions to the news among transplantation experts ranged from cautiously optimistic to wildly effusive, though all acknowledged the procedure represented a sea change. The prospect of raising pigs in order to harvest their organs for humans is bound to raise questions about animal welfare and exploitation, though an estimated 100 million pigs already are killed in the United States each year for food. While some surgeons speculated that it could be just months before genetically engineered pigs’ kidneys are transplanted into living human beings, others said there was still much work to be done. “This is really cutting-edge translational surgery and transplantation that is on the brink of being able to do it in living human beings,” said Dr. Amy Friedman, a former transplant surgeon and chief medical officer of LiveOnNY, the organ procurement organization in the greater New York area. The group was involved in the selection and identification of the brain-dead patient receiving the experimental procedure. The patient was a registered organ donor, and because the organs were not suitable for transplantation, the patient’s family agreed to permit research to test the experimental transplant procedure. Friedman said she envisioned using hearts, livers and other organs grown in pigs, as well. “It’s truly mind-boggling to think of how many transplants we might be able to offer,” she said, adding, “You’d have to breed the pigs, of course.” Other experts were more reserved, saying they wanted to see whether the results were reproducible and to review data collected by NYU Langone. “There’s no question this is a tour de force, in that it’s hard to do and you have to jump through a lot of hoops,” said Dr. Jay A. Fishman, associate director of the transplantation center at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Whether this particular study advances the field will depend on what data they collected and whether they share it, or whether it is a step just to show they can do it,” Fishman said. He urged humility “about what we know.” Many hurdles remain before genetically engineered pigs’ organs can be used in living human beings, said Dr. David Klassen, chief medical officer of the United Network for Organ Sharing. While he called the surgery “a watershed moment,” he warned that long-term rejection of organs occurs even when the donor kidney is well-matched, and “even when you’re not trying to cross species barriers.” The kidney has functions in addition to clearing blood of toxins. And there are concerns about pig viruses infecting recipients, Klassen said: “It’s a complicated field, and to imagine that we know all of the things that are going to happen and all the problems that will arise is naive.” Xenotransplantation, the process of grafting or transplanting organs or tissues between different species, has a long history. Efforts to use the blood and skin of animals in humans go back hundreds of years. In the 1960s, chimpanzee kidneys were transplanted into a small number of human patients. Most died shortly afterward; the longest a patient lived was nine months. In 1983, a baboon heart was transplanted into an infant girl known as Baby Faye. She died 20 days later. Pigs offered advantages over primates for organ procurement — they are easier to raise, reach maturation faster, and achieve adult human size in six months. Pig heart valves are routinely transplanted into humans, and some patients with diabetes have received pig pancreas cells. Pig skin has also been used as temporary grafts for burn patients. The combination of two new technologies — gene editing and cloning — has yielded genetically altered pig organs. Pig hearts and kidneys have been transplanted successfully into monkeys and baboons, but safety concerns precluded their use in humans. “The field up to now has been stuck in the preclinical primate stage, because going from primate to living human is perceived as a big jump,” Montgomery said. The kidney used in the new procedure was obtained by knocking out a pig gene that encodes a sugar molecule that elicits an aggressive human rejection response. The pig was genetically engineered by Revivicor and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a source for human therapeutics. Montgomery and his team also transplanted the pig’s thymus, a gland that is involved in the immune system, in an effort to ward off immune reactions to the kidney. After attaching the kidney to blood vessels in the upper leg, the surgeons covered it with a protective shield so they could observe it and take tissue samples over the 54-hour study period. Urine and creatinine levels were normal, Montgomery and his colleagues found, and no signs of rejection were detected during more than two days of observation. “There didn’t seem to be any kind of incompatibility between the pig kidney and the human that would make it not work,” Montgomery said. “There wasn’t immediate rejection of the kidney.” The long-term prospects are still unknown, he acknowledged. But “this allowed us to answer a really important question: Is there something that’s going to happen when we move this from a primate to a human that is going to be disastrous?”

In a first, surgeons attached a pig kidney to a human — and it worked

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