A Chinese research team has successfully performed the world’s first xenotransplantation of a gene-edited pig lung into a brain-dead human. The achievement, which was published online in the British academic journal Nature Medicine on August 25, is considered a significant milestone in the field and could help address the global shortage of organs for lung transplants.
The research team, led by Professor He Jianxing of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, transplanted the left lung of a gene-edited Bama miniature pig into a brain-dead patient. This procedure simulated a common single-lung transplant. The donor pig had six genetic edits to reduce the risk of immune rejection in the human body. For nine days after the surgery, the transplanted lung maintained normal ventilation and gas exchange functions, with no signs of hyperacute rejection or active infection, according to respiratory, blood, and imaging data.
“The demand for organ transplants is increasing worldwide, and xenotransplantation is seen as a promising solution to the organ donor shortage,” said He Jianxing. He added that this successful procedure represents a critical step forward in the field of lung xenotransplantation.
He stated that the team plans to further optimize their gene-editing strategies and anti-rejection treatments to extend the survival and function of transplanted organs. They also intend to apply their independently developed “tubeless technology” to xenotransplant trials to minimize mechanical ventilation damage to the donor lung, pushing the research closer to clinical application.
The research team noted that the study strictly adhered to national laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines, receiving approval and supervision from the hospital’s ethics committee. The recipient, who had a severe traumatic brain injury, was confirmed to be brain-dead through multiple independent assessments. Their family voluntarily agreed to participate in the study to support medical advancement and requested to conclude the research on the ninth day.
Xenotransplantation, the process of transplanting animal organs into humans, is a cutting-edge area of global medical research. International experts have praised the findings. Beatriz Domínguez-Gil, director of Spain’s National Transplant Organization, said that previous xenotransplantation trials had been limited to kidneys, hearts, and livers. “In comparison, lung xenotransplantation faces greater challenges,” she said, “because of the lungs’ delicate physiological balance, high blood flow, and continuous exposure to the outside air, making them particularly vulnerable.” She described the Chinese team’s achievement as a “milestone” in the field.