August 11, 2017
Scientists have succeeded in genetically modifying piglets in the hope that they will soon be able to transplant several of their organs into humans.
Pig organ transplant has already been performed
The American review Science published an article on August 10, relating this new scientific feat: a team of geneticists, led by the two scientists from Havard University (United States), Luhan Yang and George Church, succeeded in modify the genetic code of 37 pig embryos, in order to make their future organs more compatible with those of humans, for transplantation.
Xenotransplantation, which consists of performing transplants from animal donors, already exists, in particular to replace a heart valve or a pancreas.. The researchers explain in the American journal that the organs of pigs “ can grow to an ideal size for humans “. But until today, larger organs could not be transplanted, due to the risk of transmission of viruses infecting humans.
Genes behind viruses removed from DNA of 37 piglets
Geneticists have managed to circumvent this risk of transmission by using the revolutionary and extremely precise technique of Crispr-Cas9, a kind of “genetic scissors”, which allowed them to remove the genes responsible for viruses in the DNA of pigs, before developing the embryos. After 4 months, when their organs reach the size needed for transplantation, it appears that most genetically modified pigs are perfectly healthy.
The next step in the research will be to ensure that there are as few rejections as possible. ” Pigs will need other modifications so that organs are not rejected by the human immune system, or cause further damage », Can we read in the columns of Science. The site Scientific American We also learn that teams of researchers hope that a first transplant can be performed within 2 or 3 years. According to them, the first organs that can be transplanted would be the kidneys, then other organs such as the heart or the liver. A real hope, at a time when we still lack so many organ donors …
Aurélie Giraud
