Reacción a "Reactions to kidney transplant from genetically modified pigs to brain-dead man "

This case represents one of the first functional kidney transplants from a pig into a human, and shows proof of principle that organs from a genetically modified animal can replace human kidney function for one week without rejection and using conventional kidney transplant drug therapy. 

The key advance here is the genetic removal of four pig genes that have previously proven a barrier to successful cross-species transplantation, and insertion of six human genes that prevent coagulation and 'humanise' the pig kidney to look more human-like (the 10-gene-modified pig donor). 

This transplant was done in a brain-dead organ donor in Maryland USA, who had their kidneys removed and the 10-gene-modified pig kidney transplanted. The transplanted kidney functioned immediately and showed no signs of rejection over a seven-day period, during which biopsies and blood tests confirmed normal kidney function. 

This study confirms that genetically modified, specially housed pig kidneys can correct kidney failure and function using standard kidney transplant drugs. Although in the early phase, this pilot study provides hope for the over 15,000 Australians on dialysis who could benefit from a kidney transplant, and potentially helps overcome the shortage in human donor kidneys.