A team of doctors in China successfully implanted a pig's lung into a human for the first time. They connected a gene-edited pig lung to a man who had been pronounced brain dead. The implanted lung functioned for 9 days and transported oxygen into the blood till the immune system destroyed it.&nbsp;The transplantation was part of xenotransplantation, a process in which the use of animal organs took place to help people who required transplants. This method plays a significant role for humankind, as several patients die waiting for an organ if their lungs fail.&nbsp;Researchers documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period, according to a report in Earth.com.&nbsp;The operation and analysis were directed by the lead surgeon, Jianxing He of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, whose group works in lung surgery and transplant research in Guangzhou, China. According to a report in OPTN, the United States performed 3,340 lung transplants in 2024. Despite the increase, the demand remains high, and waiting lists are long.<h3>How a pig’s lung was implanted into a man</h3>In this experimental surgery, doctors removed the left lung of a genetically modified Bama Xiang pig, a small native Chinese breed commonly used in xenotransplantation because its organs closely match human sizes. Then they attached the pig's organ to a 39-year-old brain-dead man after the lung was edited multiple times with the help of CRISPR technology, a tool that changes DNA in precise ways.&nbsp;Scientists modified the pig lung by deleting three genes that typically trigger strong immune reactions and inserting three human genes that regulate blood clotting and the complement system. The lung was surgically attached to the patient’s airway and blood vessels using standard transplant methods, while the other natural lung was left intact to maintain stability and allow safe data collection.&nbsp;Once blood flow resumed, the lung began exchanging gases and readings from its vein confirmed normal oxygen levels, indicating that the organ was functioning at a basic level. The most serious issue emerged within the first 24 hours—fluid build-up in the tissue, resembling primary graft dysfunction, a complication often seen after lung transplants.&nbsp;By the third and sixth days, tests revealed antibody activity and complement system attacks that were damaging the tissue. Although some improvements were noted by day nine, the researchers chose to end the experiment and remove the lung for further study.<h3>How will the implantation help patients?</h3>Recent developments with pig kidney transplants in humans have shown remarkable results. One patient has successfully lived for more than six months with a transplanted pig kidney.&nbsp;However, lungs pose a greater risk due to different biological complexities, so kidney progress does not transfer directly. Still, the kidney breakthrough shows that carefully designed genetic modifications and tailored drug therapies can extend the acceptance of animal organs.&nbsp;If researchers succeed in identifying the right balance of gene edits and medicines for lung transplants, it could be transformative. Patients suffering from conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or severe emphysema could get options that are currently unavailable.&nbsp;

Doctors documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period.

A team of doctors in China successfully implanted a pig's lung into a human for the first time. They connected a gene-edited pig lung to a man who had been pronounced brain dead. The implanted lung functioned for 9 days and transported oxygen into the blood till the immune system destroyed it. The transplantation was part of xenotransplantation, a process in which the use of animal organs took place to help people who required transplants. This method plays a significant role for humankind, as several patients die waiting for an organ if their lungs fail. Researchers documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period, according to a report in Earth.com. The operation and analysis were directed by the lead surgeon, Jianxing He of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, whose group works in lung surgery and transplant research in Guangzhou, China. According to a report in OPTN, the United States performed 3,340 lung transplants in 2024. Despite the increase, the demand remains high, and waiting lists are long. How a pig’s lung was implanted into a man In this experimental surgery, doctors removed the left lung of a genetically modified Bama Xiang pig, a small native Chinese breed commonly used in xenotransplantation because its organs closely match human sizes. Then they attached the pig's organ to a 39-year-old brain-dead man after the lung was edited multiple times with the help of CRISPR technology, a tool that changes DNA in precise ways. Scientists modified the pig lung by deleting three genes that typically trigger strong immune reactions and inserting three human genes that regulate blood clotting and the complement system. The lung was surgically attached to the patient’s airway and blood vessels using standard transplant methods, while the other natural lung was left intact to maintain stability and allow safe data collection. Once blood flow resumed, the lung began exchanging gases and readings from its vein confirmed normal oxygen levels, indicating that the organ was functioning at a basic level. The most serious issue emerged within the first 24 hours—fluid build-up in the tissue, resembling primary graft dysfunction, a complication often seen after lung transplants. By the third and sixth days, tests revealed antibody activity and complement system attacks that were damaging the tissue. Although some improvements were noted by day nine, the researchers chose to end the experiment and remove the lung for further study. How will the implantation help patients? Recent developments with pig kidney transplants in humans have shown remarkable results. One patient has successfully lived for more than six months with a transplanted pig kidney. However, lungs pose a greater risk due to different biological complexities, so kidney progress does not transfer directly. Still, the kidney breakthrough shows that carefully designed genetic modifications and tailored drug therapies can extend the acceptance of animal organs. If researchers succeed in identifying the right balance of gene edits and medicines for lung transplants, it could be transformative. Patients suffering from conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or severe emphysema could get options that are currently unavailable.

Doctors documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period.

Doctors in China successfully implant Pig’s lung into a human in historic first

Tim Andrews became only the second person known to be living with a pig kidney. The surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital transplanted a genetically modified kidney from a pig into 66-year-old Andrews.
The surgery emerged as a groundbreaking step in the area of Xenotransplantation, which means transplanting organs from one species to another. The science behind animal-to-human transplantation aims at easing the shortage of donated human organs.&nbsp;
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Massachusetts General Hospital announced Friday that Andrews is free from dialysis and is on the path of recovery from the transplant that happened on January 25, The Associated Press reported. He reportedly left the hospital a week later.
Andrews told AP, "When I woke up in the recovery room, I was a new man."
"As soon as I woke up after the surgery, the cloud of dialysis disappeared. I felt re-energized and revitalized. It was a miracle."
His doctors said that his scheduled press conference on Friday was cancelled after he had irregular blood sugar readings and was not feeling well enough to attend.&nbsp;
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<h2>'This is uncharted territory'&nbsp;</h2>
Andrews is just one of two persons surviving with a pig kidney. He is the fourth live recipient in history. The first four pig organ transplants &mdash; two hearts and two kidneys &mdash; were short-lived.&nbsp;
The first recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney died from cardiac causes within two months. Notably, there was no evidence of xenograft rejection.
While reacting to the same, Tatsuo Kawai, MD, PhD, of the Transplant Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicineopens, wrote, "There was no evidence of acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, inflammation in other organs, or drug toxicity."
"We concluded that the patient had probable sudden cardiac death caused by dysrhythmia in the context of severe ischemic cardiomyopathy," they added.&nbsp;
However, the fifth xenotransplant recipient woman was not nearly as sick as prior patients, thriving for now 2.5 months after a pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health in November.&nbsp;
Kawai also led Andrews' surgery. As quoted by AP, he said, "This is uncharted territory. I'm very optimistic. And hopefully, we can get to survival, kidney survival, for over two years."&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Science & Tech | The surgery highlights the potential of animal-to-human transplantation, with Andrews recovering well, showcasing promising medical progress.

Tim Andrews became only the second person known to be living with a pig kidney. The surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital transplanted a genetically modified kidney from a pig into 66-year-old Andrews. The surgery emerged as a groundbreaking step in the area of Xenotransplantation, which means transplanting organs from one species to another. The science behind animal-to-human transplantation aims at easing the shortage of donated human organs. Also read: Saharan dust carries radioactive contamination to Western Europe. Is it harmful? Massachusetts General Hospital announced Friday that Andrews is free from dialysis and is on the path of recovery from the transplant that happened on January 25, The Associated Press reported. He reportedly left the hospital a week later. Andrews told AP, "When I woke up in the recovery room, I was a new man." "As soon as I woke up after the surgery, the cloud of dialysis disappeared. I felt re-energized and revitalized. It was a miracle." His doctors said that his scheduled press conference on Friday was cancelled after he had irregular blood sugar readings and was not feeling well enough to attend. Also read: No, humans did not really change Moon's temperatures during Covid lockdown: Study 'This is uncharted territory' Andrews is just one of two persons surviving with a pig kidney. He is the fourth live recipient in history. The first four pig organ transplants — two hearts and two kidneys — were short-lived. The first recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney died from cardiac causes within two months. Notably, there was no evidence of xenograft rejection. While reacting to the same, Tatsuo Kawai, MD, PhD, of the Transplant Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicineopens, wrote, "There was no evidence of acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, inflammation in other organs, or drug toxicity." "We concluded that the patient had probable sudden cardiac death caused by dysrhythmia in the context of severe ischemic cardiomyopathy," they added. However, the fifth xenotransplant recipient woman was not nearly as sick as prior patients, thriving for now 2.5 months after a pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health in November. Kawai also led Andrews' surgery. As quoted by AP, he said, "This is uncharted territory. I'm very optimistic. And hopefully, we can get to survival, kidney survival, for over two years." (With inputs from agencies)

Boost in the area of xenotransplantation as US man gets gene-edited pig kidney

A man with advanced liver cancer received the first liver transplant&nbsp;from a pig in history. The guy was given a liver transplant from a pig that had had&nbsp;its genes altered, according to Chinese doctors.

This is being&nbsp;considered a turning point in the xenotransplantation procedure, which involves transplanting animal&nbsp;organs into humans. On May 24, Anhui Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital posted on WeChat that a 71-year-old man suffering from liver cancer had gotten the organ on May 17.

The patient "was able to walk freely, no hyper-acute or acute rejection reactions were found, the coagulation system was not impaired, and liver function had returned to normal," according to a statement from the university,&nbsp;reported by the South China Morning Post.&nbsp;

Ten gene modifications were included in the 514-gram liver of the pig to stop organ rejection and malfunction. After it was determined that the patient's left lobe of the liver was failing to function normally on its own and was not improving with conventional therapies, the patient had a liver transplant from a pig.

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About 200 milliliters of golden bile are secreted daily from the transplanted pig liver, according to hospital head Sun Beicheng, as reported by People's Daily.

The first gene-edited pig liver was transplanted into a patient who had experienced brain death in March by a Chinese team from Air Force Medical University, marking another significant surgical accomplishment.

Additionally in March, a US patient became the first person globally to receive a kidney transplant from a gene-modified pig—a technique that was previously limited to patients who were clinically dead.&nbsp;

Even though the patient passed away in May, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston reported that the man's death was not related to the transplant.

(With inputs from agencies)

A man with advanced liver cancer received the first liver transplant from a pig in history. The guy was given a liver transplant from a pig that had had its genes altered, according to Chinese doctors.

A man with advanced liver cancer received the first liver transplant from a pig in history. The guy was given a liver transplant from a pig that had had its genes altered, according to Chinese doctors. This is being considered a turning point in the xenotransplantation procedure, which involves transplanting animal organs into humans. On May 24, Anhui Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital posted on WeChat that a 71-year-old man suffering from liver cancer had gotten the organ on May 17. The patient "was able to walk freely, no hyper-acute or acute rejection reactions were found, the coagulation system was not impaired, and liver function had returned to normal," according to a statement from the university, reported by the South China Morning Post. Ten gene modifications were included in the 514-gram liver of the pig to stop organ rejection and malfunction. After it was determined that the patient's left lobe of the liver was failing to function normally on its own and was not improving with conventional therapies, the patient had a liver transplant from a pig. Also read: Stegosaurus fossil named 'Apex' may fetch $6 million at Sotheby’s Geek Week auction About 200 milliliters of golden bile are secreted daily from the transplanted pig liver, according to hospital head Sun Beicheng, as reported by People's Daily. The first gene-edited pig liver was transplanted into a patient who had experienced brain death in March by a Chinese team from Air Force Medical University, marking another significant surgical accomplishment. Additionally in March, a US patient became the first person globally to receive a kidney transplant from a gene-modified pig—a technique that was previously limited to patients who were clinically dead. Even though the patient passed away in May, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston reported that the man's death was not related to the transplant. (With inputs from agencies)

Historic milestone: Man receives world's first gene-edited pig liver transplant

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

Two genetically modified pig hearts were successfully transplanted into humans recently, in what is the second major move forward for pig-human heart xenotransplantation this year.

Two more pig hearts successfully transplanted into humans- effort to make up for human organs shortage

Researchers announced on Tuesday (July 12) that surgeons at NYU Langone Health have successfully transplanted genetically-engineered pig hearts into two brain-dead patients. This is the first-ever successful pig heart transplant into a living person. Experts say it is an encouraging step for the medical field.&nbsp;

After this organ transplant milestone, the researchers said they believe they are moving a step closer to a long-term goal of using pig parts to address the shortage of human organs for transplant.&nbsp;

The doctors have said that the hearts exhibited normal heart function in the days following the surgery. There were no signs of rejection during the three-day experiments in June and July.&nbsp;

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It was revealed that the experiments followed the death in March of a 57-year-old man with terminal heart disease who made history two months earlier at the University of Maryland as the first person to receive a genetically modified pig heart. The reasons why his new heart eventually failed are still unclear.&nbsp;

Nader Moazami, the heart transplantation surgical director at NYU Langone Transplant Institute, oversaw the procedures. Moazami said that the institute hopes to move forward with clinical trials using the organs in the future.&nbsp;

In a statement, Moazami, said, "It brings me great excitement to tell you that the function of the heart was excellent. We did have to make some technical surgical modifications at the time of transplantation."&nbsp;

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Moazami further explained: "Part of that is because the pig heart is very similar, but is not identical to the human heart. Part of that was because in the first operation that we did, the heart was slightly undersized and we had to make some modifications."&nbsp;

The researchers said that hearts from pigs were engineered by Revivicor Inc and screened them for viruses using an enhanced monitoring protocol.&nbsp;

Xenotransplantation is safer in brain-dead recipients&nbsp;

For now, the researchers think xenotransplantation is safer in brain-dead recipients than in living patients. Also, more informative because biopsies can be done more often.

"We could determine that in tremendous detail by taking biopsies, looking at it under a microscope, doing special staining, analyzing, you know, the…, from a molecular standpoint, what was happening in that organ. So the detail, the amount we could learn was tremendous,"&nbsp;Moazami said.&nbsp;

NYU researchers also transplanted pig kidneys into two brain-dead recipients in 2021.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Researchers announced on Tuesday (July 12) that surgeons at NYU Langone Health have successfully transplanted genetically-engineered pig hearts into two brain-dead patients.

Researchers announced on Tuesday (July 12) that surgeons at NYU Langone Health have successfully transplanted genetically-engineered pig hearts into two brain-dead patients. This is the first-ever successful pig heart transplant into a living person. Experts say it is an encouraging step for the medical field. After this organ transplant milestone, the researchers said they believe they are moving a step closer to a long-term goal of using pig parts to address the shortage of human organs for transplant. The doctors have said that the hearts exhibited normal heart function in the days following the surgery. There were no signs of rejection during the three-day experiments in June and July. ALSO READ | Researchers discover that monkeypox patients shed significant virus load that are ‘potentially’ infectious It was revealed that the experiments followed the death in March of a 57-year-old man with terminal heart disease who made history two months earlier at the University of Maryland as the first person to receive a genetically modified pig heart. The reasons why his new heart eventually failed are still unclear. Nader Moazami, the heart transplantation surgical director at NYU Langone Transplant Institute, oversaw the procedures. Moazami said that the institute hopes to move forward with clinical trials using the organs in the future. In a statement, Moazami, said, "It brings me great excitement to tell you that the function of the heart was excellent. We did have to make some technical surgical modifications at the time of transplantation." ALSO READ | This magic chemical found in vegetables can double pace of your wound healing Moazami further explained: "Part of that is because the pig heart is very similar, but is not identical to the human heart. Part of that was because in the first operation that we did, the heart was slightly undersized and we had to make some modifications." The researchers said that hearts from pigs were engineered by Revivicor Inc and screened them for viruses using an enhanced monitoring protocol. Xenotransplantation is safer in brain-dead recipients For now, the researchers think xenotransplantation is safer in brain-dead recipients than in living patients. Also, more informative because biopsies can be done more often. "We could determine that in tremendous detail by taking biopsies, looking at it under a microscope, doing special staining, analyzing, you know, the…, from a molecular standpoint, what was happening in that organ. So the detail, the amount we could learn was tremendous," Moazami said. NYU researchers also transplanted pig kidneys into two brain-dead recipients in 2021. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Genetically-engineered pig hearts successfully transplanted into brain-dead patients

It is unlikely that animal-to-human transplantation will be successful in the near future, but experts say it could be so within 30-40 years.

The process of xenotransplantation dates back to the 17th century, when attempts were made to use animal blood for transfusions. In the absence of human organs, scientists started studying non-human primates like monkeys, chimpanzees, and baboons, as well as pigs.&nbsp;

The experiments on pigs have shown more positive results since their organs are comparable to humans.

In spite of this, animal-to-human transplants have yet to attain lasting success, since the animal organ is always at risk of rejection by the human body.&nbsp;

Recent xenotransplantation cases

In January, doctors in the US successfully transplanted a genetically-modified pig heart into 57-year-old David Bennett, who suffered from terminal heart disease.&nbsp;

In the weeks following surgery, the transplanted heart performed well without showing any signs of rejection. While recovering the patient spent time with his family and participated in physical therapy for strength building.

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Unfortunately, he passed away two months later.

Was organ rejection a factor?

Bennett may or may not have died from organ rejection.

Researchers have pointed out that early, positive outcomes don't necessarily indicate long-term success in xenotransplantation procedures.

One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming the immunological barriers that cause the immune system to reject pig organs, the doctors said.

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Yet several recent xenotransplants have only involved pigs.&nbsp;

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the US have successfully transplanted pig kidneys into a brain-dead human, and the transplants weren't rejected.

An American Journal of Transplantation study published in September 2021 described the transplantation of a brain-dead patient's kidneys from a gene-edited pig. A similar surgery was performed at NYU Langone Health, New York, in October.

How come only pig organs were used in the process?

Pigs have been the focus of research for more than two decades because of physiological similarities to humans, large litter sizes of 10 or more, short gestation periods of less than four months, and lower risks of transmission of infection than non-human primates.

Can doctors force the human body to accept animal organs?

It will definitely not be easy for long-term success to overcome the rejection process.

According to some experts, Xenotransplantation could be successful because animal organs can be made more compatible with the human body.

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The near future looks bright for xenotransplantation. Doctors might be able to modify the immune system or rather balance the immune system so that the body accepts these organs as parts and doesn't reject them.

It is a rapidly expanding field. At the genetic level, we have come up with a method of containing or covering those cells that can lead to the rejection of these organs. In addition, as cell technology develops, scientists can modify the DNA that becomes a part of our body. This should lead to much more successful treatments in the near future.

Ethical dilemmas

Many ethical concerns have also been raised about the use of animal organs for humans.

PETA India's science policy advisor, Dr Ankita Pandey, says more awareness is needed to solve the organ shortage, not more animals.

"Animal-to-human transplants are nothing more than vanity projects that seek to grab sensational headlines, and they are fraught with danger," she added.

(With inputs from agencies)

It is unlikely that animal-to-human transplantation will be successful in the near future, but experts say it could be so within 30-40 years. The process of xenotransplantation dates back to the 17th century, when attempts were made to use animal blood for transfusions.

It is unlikely that animal-to-human transplantation will be successful in the near future, but experts say it could be so within 30-40 years. The process of xenotransplantation dates back to the 17th century, when attempts were made to use animal blood for transfusions. In the absence of human organs, scientists started studying non-human primates like monkeys, chimpanzees, and baboons, as well as pigs. The experiments on pigs have shown more positive results since their organs are comparable to humans. In spite of this, animal-to-human transplants have yet to attain lasting success, since the animal organ is always at risk of rejection by the human body. Recent xenotransplantation cases In January, doctors in the US successfully transplanted a genetically-modified pig heart into 57-year-old David Bennett, who suffered from terminal heart disease. In the weeks following surgery, the transplanted heart performed well without showing any signs of rejection. While recovering the patient spent time with his family and participated in physical therapy for strength building. Also read | Two months after historic transplant, first person to receive gene-edited pig heart dies Unfortunately, he passed away two months later. Was organ rejection a factor? Bennett may or may not have died from organ rejection. Researchers have pointed out that early, positive outcomes don't necessarily indicate long-term success in xenotransplantation procedures. One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming the immunological barriers that cause the immune system to reject pig organs, the doctors said. Also read | Patient in ground-breaking heart transplant has a violent criminal record Yet several recent xenotransplants have only involved pigs. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the US have successfully transplanted pig kidneys into a brain-dead human, and the transplants weren't rejected. An American Journal of Transplantation study published in September 2021 described the transplantation of a brain-dead patient's kidneys from a gene-edited pig. A similar surgery was performed at NYU Langone Health, New York, in October. How come only pig organs were used in the process? Pigs have been the focus of research for more than two decades because of physiological similarities to humans, large litter sizes of 10 or more, short gestation periods of less than four months, and lower risks of transmission of infection than non-human primates. Can doctors force the human body to accept animal organs? It will definitely not be easy for long-term success to overcome the rejection process. According to some experts, Xenotransplantation could be successful because animal organs can be made more compatible with the human body. The near future looks bright for xenotransplantation. Doctors might be able to modify the immune system or rather balance the immune system so that the body accepts these organs as parts and doesn't reject them. It is a rapidly expanding field. At the genetic level, we have come up with a method of containing or covering those cells that can lead to the rejection of these organs. In addition, as cell technology develops, scientists can modify the DNA that becomes a part of our body. This should lead to much more successful treatments in the near future. Ethical dilemmas Many ethical concerns have also been raised about the use of animal organs for humans. PETA India's science policy advisor, Dr Ankita Pandey, says more awareness is needed to solve the organ shortage, not more animals. "Animal-to-human transplants are nothing more than vanity projects that seek to grab sensational headlines, and they are fraught with danger," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Explainer: Xenotransplantation - Will animal-to-human organ transplant succeed in the near future?

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