US researchers test pig-to-human transplant in donated body

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

Researchers on Thursday reported the latest in a surprising string of experiments in the quest to save human lives with organs from genetically modified pigs.

This time around, surgeons in Alabama transplanted a pig’s kidneys into a brain-dead man — a step-by-step rehearsal for an operation they hope to try in living patients possibly later this year.

“The organ shortage is in fact an unmitigated crisis and we’ve never had a real solution to it,” said Dr. Jayme Locke of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who led the newest study and aims to begin a clinical trial of pig kidney transplants.

Similar experiments have made headlines in recent months as research into animal-to-human transplants heats up.



In this photo provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, surgeons prepare to transplant kidneys from a genetically modified pig into the body of a deceased recipient in September 2021. The experimental procedure was a step-by-step rehearsal for operations they hope to try in living patients possibly later in 2022, part of a quest to use animal organs to save human lives. (UAB via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-business-health-university-of-alabama-c705087c83f33ee7ca730de65f575275

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. I will say "brain-dead body" made me read further.

But Locke said the kidney experiment could have more far-reaching impact -- because it shows that a brain-dead body can be a much-needed human model to test potential new medical treatments.

The research was conducted in September after Jim Parsons, a 57-year-old Alabama man, was declared brain-dead from a dirt bike racing accident.

After hearing this kind of research “had the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives, we knew without a doubt that that was something that Jim would have definitely put his seal of approval on,” said Julie O’Hara, Parsons’ ex-wife.

[3Hotdogs]

5. Did they search the Oath Keeper membership list for a volunteer?

[Javaman]

2. what makes this research amazing is this...

there is a sugar that exists in many mammals that primates do not have.

that's why any organ previously transplanted was rejected, the body would see this sugar present and attack.

however, these pig organs are from gametically modified pigs that lack that sugar.

that's why a few weeks ago, a pig heart was transplanted successfully into a human without rejects.

this is really big stuff.

[LisaL]

3. We don't know how long the pig heart will last in the human it was transplanted to.

It was not immediately rejected, but will it eventually be?

[Javaman]

4. when that sugar is present in the organ

the body rejects it immediately.

that's why the heart recipient not rejecting it right off the bat is an amazing achievement.

[Sapient Donkey]

6. Amazing stuff.

If I ever end up brain dead due to some tragic accident, I'd want my human shell to be used for something like this.