Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (2/2)

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

遺伝子改変したブタの腎臓移植に成功、「異種移植」大きな前進　米

CNN 2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

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移植成功の鍵を握る遺伝子操作

動物の臓器を人間に移植する「異種移植（ゼノトランスプランテーション）」は、長い間、ＳＦの世界のものと考えられてきた。しかし、米国ではブタを使った異種移植がこの３年間で６例実施されている。これらのブタは、その臓器がより人体に適合するように遺伝子操作されている。

アンドリュースさんへの移植手術を行ったマサチューセッツ総合病院の医療チームは、マサチューセッツ州ケンブリッジに拠点を置くバイオテクノロジー企業、イージェネシスが開発した臓器を使用した。

科学者たちは、ＣＲＩＳＰＲと呼ばれる遺伝子操作技術を使って、ブタのＤＮＡを改変する。

イージェネシスの研究者たちは、拒絶反応や臓器の大きさ、さらに人への感染の恐れのあるレトロウイルスなど、多くの潜在的問題に対処するために６０以上の遺伝子操作を行っている。

大勢の患者にとって希望の光

アンドリュースさんは移植手術からわずか１週間で退院したが、引き続き経過観察が行われている。

週３回の血液検査に加え、複数の端末を使って医療チームが遠隔でアンドリュースさんのバイタルサインや心拍リズムを監視している。また人間の腎臓を移植した場合と同様に、拒絶反応を抑制するために、アンドリュースさんは生涯にわたって免疫抑制剤を服用する必要がある。

米国では３７００万人の成人が慢性腎疾患を抱えており、そのうち約８０万人が末期の腎不全を患っている。

ニューヨーク大学ランゴーン医療センターの移植外科医ジェイム・ロック医師によると、同センターでは毎年８万～１０万人の患者を腎臓移植の待機リストに登録するが、年間に実施する腎移植は２万５０００～２万８０００件にとどまるという。しかも、腎不全を患うすべての患者が待機リストに登録されるわけではない。

アンドリュースさんのように末期の腎疾患を患う患者にとって、この新たな臓器は全く予想していなかった明るい兆しだ。

「まさに一筋の希望の光だ」とアンドリュースさんは述べた。

Translation

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (2/2)

CNN 2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

(continue)

Genetic manipulation held the key to successful transplantation

“Xenotransplantation”, the transplantation of animal organs into humans, had long been considered something of a science fiction story. However, six xenotransplantations using pigs had been performed in the US in the past three years. These pigs were genetically modified to make their organs more compatible with the human body.

The medical team at Massachusetts General Hospital who performed Andrews' transplant surgery used organs developed by eGenesis, a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Scientists used a genetic engineering technique called CRISPR to modify the pig's DNA.

eGenesis researchers had performed more than 60 genetic modifications to address many potential issues, including rejection, organ size, and even retroviruses that could infect humans.

A ray of hope for many patients

Andrews was released from the hospital just one week after the transplant, but remained under observation.

In addition to blood tests three times a week, Andrews' vital signs and heart rhythm were monitored remotely by a medical team using multiple devices. As with a human kidney transplant, Andrews would need to take immunosuppressants for the rest of his life to prevent rejection.

In the United States, 37 million adults had chronic kidney disease, of which about 800,000 suffered from final-stage renal failure.

Dr. Jayme Locke, a transplant surgeon at New York University Langone Medical Center, said the center put 80,000 to 100,000 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list each year, but performed only 25,000 to 28,000 kidney transplants annually. Furthermore, not all patients with kidney failure had been put on the waiting list.

For patients with final stage renal disease like Andrews, the new organ was an unexpected promising sign.

"It really is a ray of hope," Andrews said.

              So, Andrews has been on dialysis for about two years due to final-stage kidney disease. In February a pig kidney transplant performed on him was a success. This transplant surgery uses organs developed by eGenesis, a biotechnology company based in the US. For patients with final stage renal disease like Andrews, the new organ is an unexpected promising sign. I hope Andrews will start a new life with this pig kidney transplant, and his experience will benefit other patients with similar organ failure.

Note:

1. In its website eGenesis states that it is a biotechnology company committed to using its multiplex gene editing and genome engineering platform to transform solid organ and therapeutic cell transplantation for the treatment of serious diseases. (https://egenesisbio.com/about/)