Landmark Achievement: Human Receives First-Ever Pig Kidney Transplant In a pioneering medical breakthrough, doctors in Boston have successfully conducted the inaugural pig kidney transplant in a living patient. Various proof-of-concept trials utilizing genetically engineered pigs have been undertaken recently to tackle the acute scarcity of human organs available for transplantation. Noteworthy experiments included connecting a pig kidney to the body of a brain-dead organ donor and performing a double-kidney transplant in a brain-dead patient. Moreover, in 2022, an individual underwent the first pig-heart transplant, albeit with fatal consequences. In this significant milestone, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital performed the historic transplantation of a pig kidney into a living human patient for the first time. The recipient, 62-year-old Richard Slayman, underwent a successful four-hour surgery on March 16 and is currently recuperating well, with expectations of discharge from Mass General soon, as confirmed by the hospital’s statement. Expressing his sentiments, Slayman stated, “I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive.” Slayman, hailing from Weymouth, Massachusetts, has a medical history marked by type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Following a human kidney transplant in 2018, he experienced organ failure five years later, necessitating a return to dialysis in 2023, which subsequently led to severe complications requiring frequent hospital visits for management. The opportunity arose for Slayman to undergo a pig kidney transplant, and after thorough discussions regarding the potential risks with his medical team, he consented to the procedure. The donor kidney originated from eGenesis, a biotechnology firm dedicated to developing human-compatible engineered organs. Utilizing the CRISPR gene-editing system, the company meticulously alters pig genes to render the organs suitable for human recipients. Notably, 69 edits were made in the pig DNA, including the removal of three genes responsible for producing carbohydrates targeted by the human immune system, the addition of seven human genes to prevent immune-related rejection, and the inactivation of viral DNA snippets within pigs’ genomes. During the transplant procedure, Slayman received two antibody-based treatments to mitigate organ rejection, along with immune-suppressing medications. The apparent success of this procedure raises hopes that such transplants may eventually become commonplace. Dr. Leonardo Riella, medical director of kidney transplantation at Mass General, expressed optimism, stating, “Our hope is that dialysis will become obsolete.” Additionally, Slayman’s surgery holds promise for addressing systemic barriers, particularly unequal access for ethnic minority patients to kidney transplants due to the severe donor organ shortage. “This technological advance may go far to finally achieve health equity and offer the best solution to kidney failure — a well-functioning kidney — to all patients in need,” remarked Dr. Williams, associate chief of the nephrology division at Mass General. Disclaimer: This article serves informational purposes only and does not offer medical advice.
