The shortage of organ donors is becoming global, with many patients waiting desperately for a transplant while hanging on for dear life. You can’t say the reason for limited organ donors is one cause, because reasons differ from person to person as to why they should or shouldn’t donate their organs. This includes things like limited number of suitable donors as a result of illnesses or age, most people are not aware of what being a donor is, family consent and of course the complexity of the organs matching to the patient’s body.
One potential solution to this problem is using pig organs for transplants, this method is called xenotransplantation. Scientists have made great progress in modifying pig organs so that they are less likely to be rejected by the human body. If successful, this could help reduce the shortage of organs and save many lives. In this article we’re going to look at the breakthroughs, challenges and considerations of xenotransplantation.
Why Pigs Though?
Was that your first thought? There are thousands of animals to choose from but scientists went with a pig. Why is that? Pigs are chosen for organ transplantation, particularly the kidney because of its similar size and function to the human kidney.
Because pigs have biological characteristics similar to humans, this increases the possibility of a successful organ transplantation. Furthermore, the pig’s heart and liver also have anatomical and functional similarities to the human’s own. However, by modifying specific genes in pigs, allows them to be more compatible with the human body. These changes increase the chances of successful organ transplantation.
Recent Happening
The first to ever receive a genetically modified pig’s kidney was Richard “Rick” Slayman. Richard has been suffering from terminal stage kidney disease. Then in March of 2024, he underwent a pig kidney transplant operation at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
After the procedure, Slayman needed no dialysis as the new kidney was said to be functioning well. Unfortunately, two months after the transplantation surgery, the 62 year old Richard Slayman died.
The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) did say that the cause of Slayman’s death had no indication of it being the transplanted kidney. However, he did suffer from other illnesses alongside his kidney disease like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
In addition, Lisa Pisano becomes the second person to ever receive a genetically modified pig’s kidney. Pisano had both heart and kidney failure. Back in April 2024, she underwent kidney transplant surgery which initially showed positive signs. However, complications arose and 47 days later the pig’s kidney function declined, and it was surgically removed. Pisano is currently stable but back on dialysis.
What Are The Concerns and Challenges of Xenotransplantation?
The human body has a mechanism called immune rejection. This mechanism is a natural defense against foreign tissues in the body. When a foreign organ like a pig’s kidney is transplanted to the human body, the immune system often sees this foreign organ as a threat and attacks it.
Xenotransplantation goes against animal rights and raises serious ethical concerns specifically for organ harvesting. Another concern is the risk of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs). These are viruses present in a pig’s DNA. There are concerns that these viruses could be transmitted to human recipients during a pig organ transplant, potentially causing new diseases.
Bottom Line
The future of xenotransplantation looks promising for saving many lives. Using a pig’s kidney as a substitute for a human kidney can help address the shortage of donor organs. However, scientists are making advances using genetic modification to ensure a more successful transplantation without rejection.
Although there is still ongoing research to address other concerns and challenges associated with xenotransplantation. The future of xenotransplantation is bright, offering hope and new possibilities in the field of medicine.
