Pig's kidney transplanted to a human as trial could save thousands of lives

16 August 2023 , 17:27

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Man was on life support before surgery (Image: Western Mail)

A man in his 50s has received a kidney transplant from a genetically modified pig.

The US man had been declared brain dead so was used in a trial with his family’s consent which is the first to show pig organs could be viable for humans. Around 5,000 Brits are in need of a kidney transplant because of a gap between supply and demand.

Last year 2,868 adult kidney transplants were performed as it is the standard treatment for end stage kidney disease. This gradual loss of kidney function can be as a result of diabetes and high blood pressure. US scientists at the University of Alabama genetically modified pigs to be more compatible for human organ donation.

The man from Maryland was on a life support machine and received a pig kidney with 10 key gene changes. Monitoring showed the kidney worked for the week duration of the test. This study is the culmination of 30 years of research and is the first that has successfully reduced a chemical waste product called creatinine down to healthy levels which could in theory sustain life.

Lead author Dr Jayme Locke said: “This study showcases xenotransplant as a viable potential solution to an organ shortage crisis responsible for thousands of preventable deaths annually.” She added: “We plan to move this model forward, and look to perform additional transplants in this model to continue to collect and compile data to make the case that we are ready to do this in living people.”

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Using animal organs for humans is called 'xenotransplant' (PA)

Kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When your kidneys lose their filtering abilities, dangerous levels of certain fluids, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.

The idea of using animal organs for humans is called “xenotransplant” and previous attempts have been made to transplant pig kidneys into brain dead humans because of the genetic similarities between the species. Prof Toby Coates, expert at the University of Adelaide in Australia, said: “This case shows proof of principle that organs from a genetically modified animal can replace human kidney function for one week without rejection and using conventional kidney transplant drug therapy.

“The key advance here is the genetic removal of four pig genes that have previously proven a barrier to successful cross-species transplantation, and insertion of six human genes that prevent coagulation and 'humanise' the pig kidney.” Dr Roger Lord, senior lecturer at the Australian Catholic University, said: “Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine from muscle and protein metabolism. Measurement of creatinine is an indication of kidney function and ability to filter waste from blood.

“The investigators were also able to demonstrate that there was no evidence of microscopic blood clot formation in the xenografted kidneys which is another indicator of normal kidney function. This case study provides important preliminary evidence that these genetically modified kidneys can function normally following xenotransplantation and offers hope to those on waiting lists for kidney transplantation.”

The findings are published in the journal Jama Surgery. The introduction of Max and Keira’s Law in 2020 - which changed organ donation rules in England to 'deemed consent' - followed years of campaigning by the Daily Mirror. Shortages of some organs remain and people die every year on the waiting list. Xenotransplantion has been viewed as a potential solution to this in future. Kidneys were first transplanted from a genetically modified pig to a human in 2022.

Martin Bagot