Historic Breakthrough: US Surgeons Overcome Immune Rejection in Pig kidney Transplant
New York, NY – In a landmark achievement for the field of xenotransplantation, surgeons at NYU Langone Health have successfully prevented immune rejection of a pig kidney transplanted into a living patient, restoring blood flow to the organ and marking a pivotal step toward addressing the critical shortage of human organs for transplant. The recipient,whose identity has not been disclosed,is currently being monitored following the procedure.
this breakthrough addresses a major hurdle that has long prevented wider adoption of xenotransplantation – the human body’s natural tendency to reject foreign tissue. While previous attempts at pig kidney transplants have occurred, this is the frist instance of successfully mitigating the immune response, specifically addressing issues caused by T cells, offering a potential long-term solution for thousands awaiting life-saving kidney transplants. Currently, only approximately 3% of individuals with kidney failure in the united States have access to a transplant, and even increased organ donation rates will not meet the overwhelming demand. In Spain, just over 6% of the 68,000 dialysis patients received transplants last year.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the Langone Institute, a leading center in xenotransplantation research, expressed optimism about the future. “I think [immune rejection problems] can be resolved,” he stated, indicating that overcoming this challenge opens the door to a perhaps scalable solution for the organ shortage crisis.
the success builds upon years of research into genetically modifying pig organs to make them more compatible with the human immune system. The team at NYU Langone continues to monitor the patient closely, with ongoing research focused on refining immunosuppressive therapies and ensuring the long-term viability of the transplanted kidney.This advancement offers renewed hope for the tens of thousands of patients on dialysis and the waiting list for a kidney transplant, potentially transforming the landscape of organ transplantation.
Joe Carrotta / NYU Langone Health provided imagery of the surgical team examining the transplanted kidney.
