Photo credit: www.foxnews.com
Pig Kidney Transplant: A New Chapter in Organ Rejection Research
An Alabama woman, Towana Looney, who lived with a pig kidney implant for a record-breaking 130 days, recently underwent surgery to remove the organ after her body began to reject it. Looney’s experience provides valuable insights into the complexities of xenotransplantation, an area of research that holds the potential to alleviate the chronic shortage of human organs for transplantation.
After her surgery on April 4, at NYU Langone Health, Looney returned home grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this groundbreaking research. “I am thankful to my doctors for allowing me to be part of this incredible research,” she remarked, acknowledging the substantial advancements made during her time with the pig kidney.
Impact of the Transplant
The outcome of Looney’s transplant, although not as hoped, has become instrumental in further understanding the challenges of organ rejection in xenotransplants. Following the surgery, she was placed back on dialysis, a procedure she has been using since 2016. Looney’s unique situation made her highly prone to rejecting a human kidney, which added complexity to her case.
“Though the outcome is not what anyone wanted, I know a lot was learned from my 130 days with a pig kidney, and that this can help and inspire many others in their journey to overcoming kidney disease,” Looney shared with The Associated Press. Her remarkable ability to survive longer than any previous recipient of a gene-edited pig organ signifies the progress being made in this experimental field.
Understanding Organ Rejection
Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led Looney’s surgical team, noted that the rejection of the kidney is currently under investigation. Considering the risks, the decision was made to remove the donor organ rather than attempt to salvage it. “We did the safe thing,” Montgomery explained, emphasizing that Looney is not worse off than before the transplant and, in fact, enjoyed a significant break from dialysis during the four-and-a-half months she had the pig kidney.
Contributing factors to the rejection may include a prior infection Looney suffered and adjustments to her immune-suppressing medication, which had been slightly reduced. At the same time, her immune system was beginning to reactivate post-transplant, creating an environment that may have adversely affected the new organ.
Broader Implications for Transplant Research
Looney isn’t alone in her experiences; Lisa Pisano, the second individual to receive a kidney from a genetically modified pig, also faced a similar fate and had to have her organ removed to return to dialysis. These cases reflect the ongoing exploration of xenotransplantation as a method to address the severe organ shortage that affects over 100,000 individuals on transplant waiting lists in the United States—many of whom are in desperate need of kidneys.
In light of these challenges, biotech companies continue to explore genetic modifications in pigs to create organs that are more compatible with human immune systems. The hope is that such advancements will one day provide a viable solution to the crisis of organ availability.
The journey of Towana Looney and her pioneering participation in xenotransplant research is a testament to the potential for innovation in organ transplantation that could ultimately save lives and reshape the landscape of medical treatment for those with kidney disease.
Source
www.foxnews.com