- Xenotransplantation involves transplanting, implanting, or infusing live cells, tissues, or organs from nonhuman animal sources into humans. This technique is increasingly seen as a potential solution to the organ donor shortage.
- The recent case at Massachusetts General Hospital involved a modified pig kidney transplant in a patient named Richard “Rick” Slayman, who survived for two months post-surgery.
- The process includes significant genetic modifications to the donor organ to prevent rejection by the human immune system. For example, Slayman’s surgery involved making 69 genomic edits to the pig kidney using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. These edits aimed to remove pig-specific antigens and add human-compatible genes to reduce the risk of rejection.
- Pigs are commonly used due to their physiological and anatomical similarities to humans, availability, and the feasibility of genetic modifications. Pig heart valves have been used in human surgeries for over 50 years, demonstrating the compatibility of certain pig tissues with the human body.
Dig Deeper: Read about CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology
