Immune Reactions Found Behind Human Rejection of Transplanted Pig Kidneys
7 days ago
- #xenotransplantation
- #immune-response
- #organ-transplant
- Researchers have identified and overcome a major obstacle in xenotransplantation, where animal kidneys are transplanted into humans.
- Genetically modified pig kidneys are being explored to address the shortage of human organs, with modifications aimed at preventing immune rejection.
- A study led by NYU Langone Health involved transplanting a genetically engineered pig kidney into a brain-dead recipient, allowing detailed immune response analysis over 61 days.
- The study found that rejection is driven by antibodies and T cells, and successfully reversed rejection using FDA-approved drugs.
- Multi-omics analysis revealed three major immune responses against the pig kidney, providing biomarkers for early detection of rejection.
- The findings suggest that pig kidneys can effectively replace human kidneys, paving the way for future clinical trials.
- Future studies are needed to confirm these findings in live patients and other human decedents.