Third Recipient of Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Emerges in China

A 69-year-old woman in China has become the third individual globally to receive a gene-edited pig kidney transplant, marking a significant advancement in the field of xenotransplantation. The procedure, conducted at Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi'an, took place nearly three weeks ago, and medical professionals report that the patient is recovering well.

For eight years, the woman had been suffering from kidney failure before she underwent the groundbreaking surgery. Dr. Lin Wang, a member of the transplant team, provided updates indicating that the transplanted kidney is functioning effectively, and the patient continues to be monitored in the hospital.

This surgery is part of an expanding initiative to utilize genetically modified pig organs to address the increasing shortage of human donor organs available for transplantation. To date, a total of four individuals have received pig kidneys, while two others have been transplanted with pig hearts. Although some of the initial surgeries faced challenges, recent reports indicate that two kidney recipients, one from Alabama and another from New Hampshire, are experiencing successful recoveries.

In addition to kidney transplants, Dr. Wang and his team are also exploring the potential of pig livers for transplantation. A study published on March 26 in the journal Nature detailed the implantation of a pig liver into a brain-dead individual, which survived for ten days and exhibited early signs of function. Notably, the liver was able to produce bile and albumin, crucial components for liver functionality, albeit in smaller quantities compared to a human liver. These findings suggest a potential avenue for supporting patients with liver failure.

Researchers in the United States are investigating similar approaches, including the use of a pig liver connected externally to filter blood in a manner akin to dialysis. Dr. Parsia Vagefi, a liver transplant surgeon not involved in the study, described the initial results as a promising first step, emphasizing that further research is necessary to address numerous outstanding questions.

Dr. Wang's team is also conducting trials to fully replace a human liver with a pig liver in another brain-dead patient, with ongoing analysis of the results.