November 10, 2024

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First ‘Organ Transplantation’ Pig Born in Japan

First ‘Organ Transplantation’ Pig Born in Japan…Aims for Transplantation to Humans Next Year



First ‘Organ Transplantation’ Pig Born in Japan…Aims for Transplantation to Humans Next Year

Japanese researchers have successfully bred pigs with modified genes for organ transplantation. They aim to transplant organs into humans next year, as countries around the world are turning to “xenotransplantation” research as a solution to organ shortages.

The piglet was born two days ago. Its immune genes were modified to prevent rejection when organs are transplanted into humans.

 

First 'Organ Transplantation' Pig Born in Japan...Aims for Transplantation to Humans Next Year

screenshot from youtube

 

This is the first time pigs with modified genes for human organ transplantation have been born in Japan.

Japanese researchers announced that they successfully transplanted the nucleus of specially developed pig cells from the United States into egg cells, which were then implanted into a pig’s uterus, resulting in the successful birth of three piglets.

The modified genes are intended to reduce rejection when pig organs are transplanted into humans.

Following a trial where pig kidneys were transplanted into monkeys this summer, the goal is to apply the procedure to humans as early as next year.

The number of organ donors is significantly insufficient compared to the number of patients awaiting transplants, prompting countries to look to animals.

(Professor Fang Dake / Scholar at the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

“Xenotransplantation is considered one of the important methods to solve the shortage of human organs.”

Chinese researchers announced in September last year that they had succeeded in cultivating human organs in pigs. By transplanting chimera embryos (mixtures of pig and human cells) into surrogate mother pigs, a “humanized kidney” with 60% human genes was reported to have grown normally.

However, there are still ongoing discussions regarding the ethics and safety of transplanting animal organs into humans.

Prior to this, two patients in the United States underwent heart transplants from genetically modified pigs, but they both died 6 weeks and 2 months later respectively.

First ‘Organ Transplantation’ Pig Born in Japan…Aims for Transplantation to Humans Next Year

(source:internet, reference only)


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