A Chinese team has successfully transplanted a gene-edited pig lung into the body of a brain-dead human, a breakthrough that may help alleviate the shortage of donor lungs for transplantation.
On the 25th, the Chinese research team published a paper online in the British academic journal Nature Medicine, reporting the world's first case of successfully transplanting a gene-edited pig's lung into a brain-dead human.
The research team, led by Professor He Jianxing from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, transplanted the left lung of a gene-edited Bama miniature pig into a brain-dead patient, simulating a clinically common single-lung transplantation surgery.
The donor pig underwent six gene edits to reduce the immune risks after transplantation of its organ into the human body. Postoperative monitoring of respiratory, blood, and imaging indicators showed that the transplanted lung maintained ventilation and gas exchange functions for up to nine days, with no occurrence of hyperacute rejection reaction during that period. Simultaneous pathogen monitoring also detected no signs of active infection.
The research team stated that the study strictly followed relevant national laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines, and was reviewed and supervised by the hospital's ethics committee and other institutions. The subject suffered severe craniocerebral trauma and was confirmed brain-dead through multiple independent assessments. The family, wishing to support medical progress, agreed to participate in the study without compensation. The research was concluded on the ninth day at the request of the family.