We still don’t allow stem cell research to proceed and improve our lives. Which means we can’t truly develop a replacement kidney (or liver or whatever organ we want) that would be compatible with our patients. Which is a real problem, since there are some 100,000 folks waiting for a kidney transplant right now. And, about a dozen of those waiting die every single day before they ever get a chance at the transplant.

But, folks are looking for ways around this organ shortage.  And, what is needed a sustainable, renewable source of such organs.

How about starting with a kidney grown in a pig (genetically altered), to ensure it could grow an organ that would not be rejected by humans) and then transplanted into a patient?  The pig was genetically altered (by Revivicor, a unit of United Therapeutics from the DC area) to terminate the function of the alpha-gal gene (encoding a sugar molecule) that would effect an aggressive human rejection response.  (There’s also the addition of the human  CD46 protein that mediates the pig’s immune system.)  This concept, the GalSafe pig, was approved by the FDA in December 2020 to be used for human therapeutics.

You should know that the eminent bioethicist, Arthur Caplan, headed up the review board that approved this experiment.

Well, there’s a few wrinkles involved in this first step.  Let’s explain.

First, start with a brain dead patient (surviving via a ventilator) whose family agreed to let NYU Langone (the team was headed by Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of the transplant unit) attach this kidney to the subject.   (The family of the nearly deceased had hoped to donate her organs to others- but, it turned out they were not suitable.) And, then the surgeons followed the body’s response to the transplant- and ascertained if the kidney functioned.

Secondly, the test lasted slightly more than two days.  (54 hours to be exact.)  Which means that we have no data as to the long-term viability of this concept.

Now, this organ wasn’t really transplanted into the body.  It was secured to the female patient’s upper leg (not within the abdomen).

Nevertheless, the kidney produced urine and creatinine almost immediately after the transplantation.  But, the fact that it worked outside her body (with blood flowing through pig arteries and veins) implies that it will function well within a human.

We now await the scientific/medical peer-reviewed article of the procedure.  (The operation occurred on 25 September; it’s way too early to have a peer-reviewed manuscript yet.)

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