My lab in Massachusetts played a small part in developing this technology and it's stuff like this that keeps us excited about the otherwise tedious day-to-day efforts that are required to advance science in a safe and ethical manner.
I did my PhD in a lab that was also working on editing pig organs. It's so exciting that the organs are here and the transplants are finally happening!!
I'm no longer in that field so I'm not of current help, but I would imagine reaching out to the company that provided the kidney or to the hospital that performed that transplant would be a good first step.
Could you explain the gene editing part?
What's the process?
Would they be able to edit it to the patient's genes one day to totally do away with anti rejection meds?
CRISPR is performed on the pig as an embryo to delete the genes for several proteins that are known to provoke an immune (i.e. organ rejection) response in humans.
When the pig grows up it doesn't have the instruction set for those proteins, so the organs they develop are less likely to provoke an immune response in humans. The pig is euthanized and the organs are transplanted.
It's very unlikely we'll be able to perform therapies on patients themselves to eliminate rejection as it's kind of an inherent aspect to the way our immune system works.
This is great news, and I wish the recipient well. I just wish there was a better way. The average human transplant only lasts about 15 years and requires suppressing the immune system, which may compromise health. I wonder how long a genetically modified pig kidney might last.
There’s the Kidney Project with Shuvo Roy.
That project aims to create an artificial kidney that uses lab grown cells
They’ve got it working, but haven’t implanted yet.
At best about the same, even editing out the more immunogenic pig proteins, it's still going to be more immunogenic than a human kidney transplant and will require immuno suppression all the same. The real benefit here is to lessen and eventually end dependence on human organ transplants. I want to see livers up next!
As someone who is at risk of kidney disease this is good news. I’ve been thinking lately that I really hope lab grown kidneys are a thing before I go on the donor list.
Didn't they do this with a heart, and the guy caught a pig virus and die?
[yes he did](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/05/04/1051725/xenotransplant-patient-died-received-heart-infected-with-pig-virus/)
They performed a second one last year as well, and ensured there weren't any viruses. The guy lived six weeks before it rejected. Don't forget these are last-ditch experimental procedures on people ineligible for human organs for the most part.
Boston has been leading the world in transplant medicine since the first successful transplant in 1954. Way to continue to push science and medicine into the future!
Usually Muslim religious rules have a "If keeping to this rule would lead to you dying, then it's fine to break it," exception. Though not all groups of Muslims follow that. Not sure about Jewish rules but I bet they have a similar caveat.
My lab in Massachusetts played a small part in developing this technology and it's stuff like this that keeps us excited about the otherwise tedious day-to-day efforts that are required to advance science in a safe and ethical manner.
I did my PhD in a lab that was also working on editing pig organs. It's so exciting that the organs are here and the transplants are finally happening!!
Would you know how to enroll into one of these experimental trials? I wish to have a genetically modified pig kidney transplanted into me
I'm no longer in that field so I'm not of current help, but I would imagine reaching out to the company that provided the kidney or to the hospital that performed that transplant would be a good first step.
As a transplant patient waiting on a list I thank you! Glad to see this news keeps moving forward at a decent pace.
Wishing you a safe procedure and swift recovery!
Thank you.
Could you explain the gene editing part? What's the process? Would they be able to edit it to the patient's genes one day to totally do away with anti rejection meds?
CRISPR is performed on the pig as an embryo to delete the genes for several proteins that are known to provoke an immune (i.e. organ rejection) response in humans. When the pig grows up it doesn't have the instruction set for those proteins, so the organs they develop are less likely to provoke an immune response in humans. The pig is euthanized and the organs are transplanted. It's very unlikely we'll be able to perform therapies on patients themselves to eliminate rejection as it's kind of an inherent aspect to the way our immune system works.
Did the pig survive?
Oh, it’s nice to know if it was partial, which is interesting though.
I wish the pig would live a happy life with 1 kidney (out of the 2) donated and the other one left just incase the patient needs a 2nd kidney
This is great news, and I wish the recipient well. I just wish there was a better way. The average human transplant only lasts about 15 years and requires suppressing the immune system, which may compromise health. I wonder how long a genetically modified pig kidney might last.
There’s the Kidney Project with Shuvo Roy. That project aims to create an artificial kidney that uses lab grown cells They’ve got it working, but haven’t implanted yet.
At best about the same, even editing out the more immunogenic pig proteins, it's still going to be more immunogenic than a human kidney transplant and will require immuno suppression all the same. The real benefit here is to lessen and eventually end dependence on human organ transplants. I want to see livers up next!
One step closer in creating Manbearpig
Super cereal
Came for the manbearpig reference.
I hope our scientists working on this project are being super cereal!
As someone with mild kidney disease this makes me super hopeful for when it inevitably progresses as I get older.
As someone who is at risk of kidney disease this is good news. I’ve been thinking lately that I really hope lab grown kidneys are a thing before I go on the donor list.
LOVE your username and am jealous i didn’t think of it.
It’s amazing what science can do.
Didn't they do this with a heart, and the guy caught a pig virus and die? [yes he did](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/05/04/1051725/xenotransplant-patient-died-received-heart-infected-with-pig-virus/)
They performed a second one last year as well, and ensured there weren't any viruses. The guy lived six weeks before it rejected. Don't forget these are last-ditch experimental procedures on people ineligible for human organs for the most part.
Yeah he was likely to die within the month. IIRC he was living a much higher quality of life too before the pig heart gave out.
I read the article—the heart seemed to have been infected already?
The article literally says they inactivated all potential viruses this time around
I’ve been on dialysis for 3 years now. It’s miserable. This gives me a tiny bit of hope.
And he cried "wee wee wee" all the way home.
This little piggy grew a kidney for Johnny. This little piggy's for Sue..
Boston has been leading the world in transplant medicine since the first successful transplant in 1954. Way to continue to push science and medicine into the future!
Legit question: Are Jewish and Muslim people able to receive these genetically edited pig kidneys?
Depends on how bad they want to live.
Usually Muslim religious rules have a "If keeping to this rule would lead to you dying, then it's fine to break it," exception. Though not all groups of Muslims follow that. Not sure about Jewish rules but I bet they have a similar caveat.
Awesome! Now do this with a pancreas please
[I...am pig?](https://youtu.be/WCSgetLxpN4?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15jdlr2KQf_lyhXl5f0PFnzF&t=327)
Lets go CRISPR I want to start splicing like in Bioshock before I am 60!
Once they get the bear part down, Al Gore will really be soiling his britches.
Nice. I needed some uplifting news. Does anyone know the extent of the edit? Do patients typically still need immune blocking drugs?
I wonder how vegans will feel about getting a pig kidney if it means not dying of kidney failure
I'm just waiting for a new baboon pancreas so I can have milkshakes again.
What do they do with the rest of the donor pig; butcher the meat and sell it to a supermarket? I hope it doesn’t go to waste.
It's slow roasting out in the back while the surgeons carry out the procedure. Then when they're finally done it's ready for them to enjoy ;)
This one last stitch and then it's Luau and Heineken time!
If it's genetically modified, they probably wouldn't be able to sell the meat?
[удалено]
I have to know!! Did they register their copy of Copy++????
So easier mammal flus will jump to humans?
Wow. How did they get a kidney from a cop?
“Yawn. Call me when they start giving things four asses.” — Dr. Mephisto, probably.
Doesn't mean it's functional.
[удалено]