Genetically modified pig kidney bridged patient to human transplant
A genetically engineered porcine kidney transplanted at Massachusetts General Hospital kept a 66-year-old man with end-stage kidney failure free of dialysis for a record nine months before removal and subsequent successful human kidney transplantation, the Lancet reports. The Yucatan miniature pig kidney had deletions of major glycan xenoantigens, inactivated porcine endogenous retroviruses and seven human transgenes; it functioned immediately and avoided detectable anti-pig antibodies. Early T-cell rejection was treated, but later microvascular injury progressed to thrombotic microangiopathy causing graft failure. No pig pathogens were detected, and the later human transplant showed no new anti-human antibodies.
Porcine kidney provided nine months dialysis-free support before human transplant.
Context
Earlier porcine kidney transplants functioned but did not survive beyond two months. This case extended xenograft survival to nine months. Next steps could include larger trials and longer follow-up to test durability and safety.
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