Nine-Day Milestone: Gene-Edited Pig Lung Transplanted into Human
A team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University achieved a groundbreaking feat: successfully transplanting a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human, maintaining function for nine days. While the experiment was ultimately terminated due to organ rejection, it represents a significant advancement in xenotransplantation. The focus wasn't on immediate success, but on observing the human immune response. The pig lung underwent six gene edits to minimize immune and inflammatory responses. Results highlighted challenges such as pulmonary edema and antibody-mediated rejection. Future research will focus on optimizing immunosuppression, refining gene editing, and ultimately achieving clinical translation.