Asia's First: China Achieves Pig Kidney Transplant in Humans, Making Her the Only Person in Asia with a Pig Kidney
Release time:
2025-03-13
Xi'an's Xijing Hospital under the Air Force Medical University has made a historic breakthrough in xenotransplantation! Led by Academician Dou Kefeng from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and urology director Qin Weijun, a multidisciplinary team successfully transplanted a kidney from a multi-gene edited pig into a patient with end-stage renal disease. By the sixth postoperative day (as of March 12), the transplanted kidney functioned well, the patient's vital signs were stable, and blood creatinine levels had decreased from 706 μmol/L pre-surgery to the normal range (90 μmol/L). The patient has begun rehabilitation exercises. This is the fifth clinical success of xenograft kidney transplantation globally and marks a significant step forward for China in overcoming organ shortages.
This surgery is another milestone in xenotransplantation for Xijing Hospital, following the world's first successful genetically edited pig-to-brain-dead recipient full liver transplantation in January 2025. The procedure was independently completed by Chinese scientists, involving the collaboration of over 20 disciplines, including urology, hepatobiliary surgery, and anesthesiology. It passed multiple rigorous reviews, including the medical ethics committee and organ transplantation committee, and complies with international standards.
Patient: A Hopeful Choice Amid Despair
The transplant recipient is a 69-year-old female patient with a 30-year history of hypertension and diabetes. Diagnosed with chronic renal insufficiency leading to uremia eight years ago, she relied on thrice-weekly dialysis for survival. Due to complex comorbidities and her status as a highly sensitized kidney transplant candidate, she never received a suitable human kidney. Her condition deteriorated over the years, with successive strokes and heart attacks, declining dialysis efficacy, and frequent complications.
Upon learning about xenotransplantation research at Xijing Hospital, the patient and her family chose to participate in this pioneering exploration. The operating team thoroughly evaluated her health and informed her of the surgery's risks and potential benefits. Her family stated: "This is a step akin to mankind landing on the moon, and we are willing to pave the way for more patients." Post-surgery, the transplanted pig kidney rapidly resumed blood flow and produced urine, with a 24-hour maximum urine output of 5,468 milliliters and significantly decreased urea levels. The patient was able to perform breathing exercises with wheelchair assistance, progressing better than expected in recovery.
Breakthrough: Dual Advances in Gene Editing and Surgical Innovation
The transplanted pig kidney was provided by DPF Medical Gene Edited Pigs from Chengdu's Zhongke Aoge Biotechnology Co., Ltd., with key human immune rejection genes knocked out and protective human genes inserted to significantly reduce rejection risk. The donor pigs were raised in sterile environments from birth to ensure organ pathogen-free status.
Due to the thin vascular walls and small caliber of pig kidneys, the team utilized custom infusion pathways to optimize renal perfusion and employed microsurgical techniques for precise vascular anastomosis. The transplanted kidney appeared healthy with restored blood flow, and ultrasound showed no hyperacute rejection. Postoperative management focused on monitoring immune rejection, coagulation function, and infection risk, with personalized anti-rejection protocols based on pre-animal experimental data.
The operation brought together experts from over 20 specialties, including urology, hepatobiliary surgery, and critical care medicine, ensuring full-chain support from donor acquisition to postoperative monitoring. Academician Dou Kefeng emphasized that the technical challenges of xenotransplantation go beyond surgery itself, encompassing a systemic project from basic research to clinical translation.
Significance: The "Chinese Solution" to Organ Shortage
China has approximately 130 million chronic kidney disease patients, with over a million in end-stage conditions, while only over 10,000 renal transplants are performed annually, highlighting a vast supply-demand gap. The breakthrough in xenotransplantation offers a new option for patients unable to access human kidneys, benefitting especially high-sensitivity and multi-comorbidity critical patients.
The success validated the clinical feasibility of multi-gene edited pig organs, laying the foundation for further research into xenotransplantation of hearts, livers, and more. Xijing Hospital plans to extend the survival time of transplanted organs to 3 months to 2 years, with the goal of making this technology routine.
Despite ethical controversies surrounding xenotransplantation, its potential social benefits are significant. Academician Dou Kefeng remarked, "In the future, genetically edited pigs might become 'living organ factories,' greatly alleviating the global organ shortage." Meanwhile, academics are advocating for the development of sound regulations and ethical frameworks to ensure the safety and accessibility of the technology.
This breakthrough by Xijing Hospital not only represents a leap in medical technology but also a profound affirmation of life dignity. As xenotransplantation transitions from laboratory research to clinical application, it could change the fate of countless end-stage renal disease patients. As the patient's family stated: "We take this step to bring hope to more people." At the intersection of technology and humanity, China is using innovation to create new realms for human health.
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