Pig hearts transplanted into baboons - is the transplantation in humans now?

Physicians achieve important breakthrough in transplantation

Researchers have some time ago managed to transplant pig hearts into baboons. These animals then lived for another six months. This period is three times longer than previous attempts. Of course, this raises the question of whether we will be faced with the transplantation of pig hearts in humans in the near future.

The scientists of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU) transplanted pig hearts into baboons some time ago. The treated animals lived for six months after surgery, which represents a significant increase in life expectancy after such surgery. The physicians published the results of their study in the English language journal "Nature".

Researchers have already successfully transplanted pig hearts into baboons. Is there a similar procedure soon in humans? (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com)

New method led to increased life expectancy

Transplanting pig hearts into baboons is a development that could pave the way for people to transplant pig hearts in the future, say the experts. After the procedure, two so-called Anubis baboons lived for half a year, while two more animals lived for at least three months. Previously, the highest life expectancy after such surgery on a baboon was only 57 days. Since then, genetic changes have been made to the heart and a new transplantation technique has been developed.

What changes were made?

The pigs were modified to produce a human version of two proteins that block an immune response in foreign cells. It was also ensured that they generated so-called thrombomodulin, which prevents blood clotting after surgery. The researchers also stopped conserving the donor hearts in the cold store and stored the organs at 8 ° C instead. Liquids containing oxygen, hormones, red blood cells and nutrients circulated through these organs.

Transplantation procedure has been further refined

The baboons were given medicines to prevent the pig's heart from growing too large and lowering their blood pressure to match that of the pigs. The transplant procedure was refined in three experiments with 14 baboons. One of the five baboons in the last experiment had to be removed from the study after the development of a blood clot.

No more organ deficiency in the future?

Transplantation of an organ between two different species - known as xenotransplantation - is considered to be a way to overcome a donor organ deficiency in people in urgent need of transplantation. (As)