Gene editing tool – CRISPR – helps with the transplant of a pig kidney into a monkey - that survived the transplant for two years

Around 6 months ago, I posted this article:

(100) A glimpse into the future that combines molecular biology, genomics, AI and “Re-genesis”– Where are we going? (substack.com)

One paragraph “Writing the genome beyond editing – engineering humans. Starting with cells for diagnosis and testing. Alter the genome by as little as one codon and make it into an ORGANOID to test cause and effect. Involves HUMAN ORGANOIDS.”

More on organoids here: Organoids | Nature Reviews Methods Primers

It turns out that developments are proceeding at quite a pace and will soon (five years?) potentially solve the organ transplant backlog.

The article below refers to a transplant from one species to another and not the growing (3D or otherwise) of a synthetic organ – but still, a little context always helps!

.From here:

(100) I almost invented a word “Humanotics” – the synthetic replacement of organs, skin, bones and blood vessels - plus gene editing (substack.com)

“An organoid is a miniaturized and simplified version of an organ produced in vitro in three dimensions that mimics the key functional, structural and biological complexity of that organ.[1] They are derived from one or a few cells from a tissue, embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, which can self-organize in three-dimensional culture owing to their self-renewal and differentiation capacities.”

Okay, so a gauge of US demand for replacement organs. From here:

New Report Recommends Changes to U.S. Organ Transplant System to Improve Fairness and Equity, Reduce Nonuse of Donated Organs, and Improve the System’s Overall Performance | National Academies

“In the U.S., more than 110,000 patients are on the national transplant waitlist, and each day at least 17 die waiting for an organ transplant, the report says. People of color and people with disabilities are particularly disadvantaged in receiving a transplant, in referrals for transplants, and the time they spend on the waiting list. For example, Black Americans are 3 times more likely to suffer from kidney failure than white Americans, but they are substantially less likely to be placed on transplant waitlists or ultimately get an organ transplant.”

Organs and organoids are not (yet>?) fungible so there’s a way to go yet before synthetic organs are available in the form of organoids.

We are all aware of the potential harms from donations of “spike protein” tainted breast milk, blood, organ and sperm.

So let’s dive in to the article – try not to shudder!

From here:

Monkey survives two years with a gene-edited pig kidney (freethink.com)

Referencing this study:

Design and testing of a humanized porcine donor for xenotransplantation | Nature

“Here we describe the design, creation and long-term life-supporting function of kidney grafts from a genetically engineered porcine donor transplanted into a cynomolgus monkey model.”

A qualifier “It’s a dramatic example of a new technology that could help save countless lives, but the two-year survivor had the best outcome of the 15 monkeys in the study — the median survival time was about 6 months after transplantation.”

“One of the most promising solutions to this organ shortage is also one of the most sci-fi: xenotransplantation. This means taking organs from one species (like a pig) and transplanting them into another (like humans). And after decades of trying it — and failing — researchers are finally starting to see some success, thanks to gene editing.”

Ok, brace yourselves:

“Last year, a man with terminal heart disease, who didn’t qualify for a human transplant, lived for two months after receiving a heart transplant from a gene-edited pig — and another man has now lived for three weeks (and counting) with a heart from a similar gene-edited pig beating in his chest.”

The largest organ demand for transplants?

“More than 85% of the people on the US transplant waiting list need new kidneys.” So you can see the significance of the gene edited pig to monkey kidney transplant could be.

No news on any rogue scientists translating the brains of cats into dogs or people into monkey’s, but hey, the sky is the limit, or should that be “the cavity is the limit”.

Onwards!

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