Richard “Rick” Slayman, a 62-year-old man from Weymouth, Massachusetts, has been discharged from the hospital after receiving the world’s first successful transplant of a genetically-edited pig kidney.
Slayman’s Long Battle with Kidney Disease
Slayman has been living with end-stage kidney disease for many years. He has had diabetes and hypertension for 30 years and received a human kidney transplant in 2018, which unfortunately failed.
Groundbreaking Transplant Offers New Hope
Last month, Slayman underwent a groundbreaking surgery where he received a genetically-edited pig kidney.
This successful transplant offers new hope for patients waiting for a kidney transplant, as the number of available human organs far exceeds the demand.
Pioneering Transplant Performed by Renowned Team
The complex surgery, led by Dr. Leonardo Riella, Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, and Dr. Nahel Elias, signifies a major milestone in the field of xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs between different species.
The transplanted pig kidney underwent 69 genetic edits to enhance compatibility with the recipient’s body.
Previously, pig kidneys have been temporarily transplanted into brain-dead donors. Also, two men received heart transplants from pigs, although both died within months.
What is a Transplant?
A transplant is a medical procedure where an organ or tissue is removed from one person (the donor) and placed into another person (the recipient) whose body needs the organ or tissue to function properly.
There are two main types of transplants:
- Allograft: An allograft is a transplant where the organ or tissue comes from a different person of the same species. For example, a human kidney transplant from a deceased donor is an allograft.
- Xenograft: A xenograft is a transplant where the organ or tissue comes from a different species. Slayman’s pig kidney transplant is an example of a xenograft.
Genetically Modified Transplants
Genetically modified transplants involve modifying the animal organ (in this case, the pig kidney) to reduce the risk of rejection by the recipient’s body.
In Slayman’s case, scientists removed genes in the pig kidney that could trigger rejection by the human immune system.
Risks of Genografts vs. Allografts
While xenografts, like genetically-modified pig kidneys, offer a potentially limitless supply of organs, they also come with additional risks compared to allografts.
One concern is the potential for the transmission of animal viruses to humans. Additionally, the long-term effects of genetically modified organs in humans are still unknown.
Conclusion
The successful transplant of a genetically-edited pig kidney into Slayman is a significant step forward in the field of transplantation. It offers new hope for patients waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
However, more research is needed to fully understand the risks and benefits of xenografts compared to traditional allografts.