Chinese scientists have successfully transplanted genetically modified pig lungs into a patient in clinical death for the first time in the world. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This research is significant as it opens new opportunities in the field of xenotransplantation. The patient was a 39-year-old man who had entered clinical death due to a stroke.
According to the research results, the transplanted lung was not immediately rejected by the human immune system. With the help of new technology, the adaptation of pig lungs to the human body and the reduction of rejection issues were observed.
This is an important step in overcoming the immune rejection response, which is one of the biggest obstacles in the xenotransplantation process. Since the lungs are constantly exposed to air and microbes, their rejection by the immune system is common, making this success a major achievement.
Genetic modifications, particularly using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, have made it possible to weaken the body's immune response against foreign tissues. This method helps reduce antibodies and inflammatory reactions, preventing harmful effects of the immune system.
Thus, the compatibility of pig tissues with the human body has improved. Xenotransplantation has long been a difficult field to implement in practice because the human immune system would reject foreign organs.
However, recent advancements in CRISPR/Cas9 technology have helped solve this problem. For example, in 2022, a pig heart was transplanted into a critically ill patient in the USA, although the patient died within two months.
This experience encouraged scientists to search for new methods and further develop the field of xenotransplantation. These new studies are initiating major changes in medicine, as they provide the possibility to treat many fatal conditions and offer new hope to people.
In the future, such methods are expected to play an important role in advancing medical technologies and extending human life.
