Chinese patient thrives with pig kidney transplant

In China, significant advancements have been made in the field of xenotransplantation, focusing on animal-to-human organ transplants. This breakthrough was highlighted when researchers at Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi'an successfully transplanted a genetically altered pig kidney into a human patient. This patient marks the third individual globally known to be living with such a transplant. Following the surgery, which took place several weeks ago, Dr. Lin Wang, part of the xenotransplant team, reported that the recipient's health condition is stable and the pig kidney is functioning effectively. The surgical team has also conducted a pioneering experiment involving the implantation of a pig liver into a brain-dead individual. This pig liver managed to survive for ten days without early signs of rejection, producing essential substances for human organ function, albeit at a lower capacity than a human liver would. The liver transplant represents an additional step in xenotransplantation research, which tackles the complex challenges of organ rejection and function in a human host. In the United States, there have also been initial trials involving pig organs. Two pig hearts and two pig kidneys were transplanted in separate cases, but those initial attempts were short-lived. However, since then, two additional patients receiving pig kidneys are showing promising health outcomes—an Alabama woman who underwent transplant surgery in November and a New Hampshire man who followed in January. Recognizing the urgent need for organ donors, scientists are actively working on genetically modifying pigs to produce organs that resemble human anatomy and function. This research aims to address the growing transplant shortage crisis by providing alternatives for patients in need. The developments in both China and the U.S. showcase a collaborative global effort toward enhancing transplant medicine through pioneering xenotransplantation research.