(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) FIRST-EVER GENETICALLY MODIFIED PIG KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

(APRIL-2024)

Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital performed a first-of-its-kind transplant using a genetically modified pig kidney on a 62-year-old patient.

This is the first instance of a pig kidney being transplanted into a living human recipient.
Previously, xenotransplantation attempts with pig kidneys involved only brain-dead donors.
This breakthrough follows prior trials where two human patients received pig hearts, though both patients unfortunately passed away within a few months.

Xenotransplantation is a medical procedure that involves transplanting organs or tissues from a non-human species (e.g., pig) into a human recipient.
Challenge: Organ rejection is a major obstacle in traditional transplantation due to incompatibility between donor and recipient.
Potential Solution: Gene editing techniques are being explored to modify animal organs (e.g., removing specific sugars in pig cells) to reduce rejection risks in humans.
Significance: This approach has the potential to address the global organ shortage, especially for organs like livers where demand far exceeds supply (e.g., 25,000-30,000 transplants needed annually in India vs. only 1,500 performed).

Pigs are increasingly considered ideal candidates due to

Ease of breeding and raising in large numbers.
Reaching a size suitable for human organ transplantation within a short period (around 6 months).
Similar anatomical and physiological characteristics to humans compared to other potential animal sources.
Cost-effective farm-based breeding practices.