US Man Receives Pig Kidney Transplant for Nearly 9 Months, Setting New Record

According to US media reports on the 27th, an American man had a genetically edited pig kidney removed and resumed dialysis treatment after nearly nine months, due to the kidney's failure. Researchers stated that this pig kidney maintained function in the human body for nearly nine months, setting a new record for the survival duration of transplanted pig kidneys in similar experiments and providing important reference for xenotransplantation research.

It was reported that on January 25 this year, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham system, transplanted a genetically edited pig kidney into 67-year-old patient Tim Andrews from New Hampshire. The pig kidney used in the surgery underwent 69 genetic edits, including "knocking out" genes that would trigger human rejection reactions, and adding some human genes to enhance the compatibility between the animal organ and the human body, while also reducing the risks associated with cross-species transplantation.

Following the transplant surgery, Andrews was temporarily free from dialysis, setting the longest record for a genetically edited pig kidney surviving in a human body. Despite the use of genetic editing and a potent immunosuppressive regimen, he still experienced transplant organ rejection. According to the hospital, on the evening of the 23rd of this month, doctors performed surgery to remove the pig kidney. Andrews stated that the rejection reaction and drug side effects made it difficult for his body to cope.

Researchers pointed out that this trial has accumulated valuable experience for xenotransplantation research.

In recent years, US medical teams have also attempted to transplant genetically edited pig hearts, lungs, and livers into humans, but the survival times of these organs in the human body have not exceeded a few months. Researchers hope that future xenotransplantation technology could potentially alleviate the shortage of transplant organs.

Pig organs are considered ideal donor candidates for xenotransplantation due to their similarities in tissue structure and physiological functions to human organs. However, various risks and technical challenges remain.