Pig kidneys as a substitute for human kidneys: Possible or not?

Sarah Khatkhatay, SK. Somaiya, Vidhyavihar

A traditional pattern that somebody has to die for somebody to survive is never going to keep up with the ever-increasing incidence of organ failure. The need and supply of organs never meet. If human organs are considered as a fossil fuel of the organ supply, then pig organs are wind and solar energy as sustainable and unlimited resources.

The role of kidneys is to remove waste and make urine. A pig kidney did exactly what it was supposed to do. An earlier study had shown that pig kidneys remain viable in nonhuman primates for up to a year, but no study was done with humans involved.  Dr. Robert Montgomery and his team performed a surgery involving a genetically modified donor animal (pig) and a brain-dead patient on a ventilator. The surgical team reported that the kidney began functioning and producing a large amount of urine within minutes of being connected to the person’s blood vessel.

The transplant was hailed as a potential miracle by the surgeon. Creatinine present in the bloodstream is a waste product that comes from the normal wear and tear of muscles. As the kidneys start losing their functionality for any reason, the extent of creatinine in the blood will increase due to poor clearance by the kidneys. Abnormally high levels of creatinine are a warning for possible malfunctioning of the kidneys. After the transplantation was complete, the organ was able to reduce the level of creatinine which was elevated before the transplant from 1.9 to 0.8 demonstrating that the kidneys were functional.

Xenotransplantation:

Transplanting organs between different species if found compatible in the long run could prove as an alternative and complementary approach for organ transplantation for people facing life-threatening diseases. The kidney selected was obtained from a genetically engineered pig. The pig had undergone editing to knock out a gene that codes for a sugar molecule called Alpha-gal. This gene is absent in humans and thus it could cause devastating immune responses in humans. These pigs were called GalSafe pigs. It had various advantages compared to other pigs such as they breed better, grow faster, have organs similar to that of humans, and being less likely to transmit infection.

Surgery:

The pig kidneys were attached to the blood vessels in the upper leg, outside the abdomen of the patient. This made it easy to observe and obtain biopsy samples. It was covered with a protective shield. 54 hours study period showed that the kidney remained pink and well perfused. Biopsies showed no signs for organ rejection or indication of harmful antibodies from human blood attacking the kidneys.

The surgery was a huge scientific achievement in the xenotransplantation field, as it is a major step forward in the organ transplant field that might solve the critical shortage of donor organs. However, the news is also cautious as there is no idea of what is to happen 3 weeks, 3 months, or 3 years from now. It could be a greater achievement if this moves up to a living human trial.

Nevertheless, the bigger step which tells us that initially things are going to be okay and the organ won’t be rejected is a huge success.

Also read: Emma Walmsley: The first-ever female CEO and Board Director of GlaxoSmithKline

References:

1. Explained: How surgeons gave pig kidneys to a human. (2021, October 23). The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-surgeons-gave-a-pig-kidney-to-a-human-7584506/

2. How a kidney from a pig may help save lives. (2021, October 24). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-a-kidney-from-a-pig-may-help-save-lives

3. Pig kidney works in human for 1st time; “potential miracle,” says surgeon. (n.d.). NDTV.Com. Retrieved October 31, 2021, from https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pig-kidney-works-in-human-patient-in-potential-miracle-2582521

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Author info:

Sarah Khatkhatay, pursuing a master’s in biotechnology is a hard-working student. She welcomes opportunities from every field of her course and is passionate about gaining more and more knowledge. Sarah is attentive towards her work and tried to improve in every way possible. She is seeking a role that allows her to continue learning and encourages her to flourish in her work.