Scientists transplanted lungs grown in the lab into a pig

This could be a revolution in transplantation. Texas researchers grew lungs in the lab, which were then transplanted into pigs. The new organ was quickly accepted by the animal’s body and, in just two weeks, developed the network of blood vessels needed for the proper flow of oxygen and blood.

Teamoł scientistsow from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) successfully transplanted lab-grown lungs into an adult pig. The organ has been accepted by the animal’s body, giving hope that a similar procedure could be used in humans.

In the publication, whichora appeared in „Science Translational Medicine”, scientists especiallyolarly describe the technique they used. The method has great potential, and it may be able to meet the demand for organs for transplantation.

Lungs were cultured on the scaffold, whichore scientists created from lungs taken from other pigs. Previously harvested organs, whichowhich served as scaffolds, were stripped of blood and cellsorek using a special mixture of sugar and detergent so that only the lung itself remained "skeleton".

Each of the scaffolds, there were four of them, the researchers placed in a container containing a special mixture of componentsoin nutritional. They then added to this cocktail oforks of pig lungs, whichore were to receive transplants and allowed to grow lungs for 30 days. Afterwards, four lungs grown in the lab were transplanted into four adult pigs.

Within twooch weeks the transplanted lungs began to form robust networks of blood vessels, ktore are essential for the organ to function properly. The animals were tested in roAt different times after transplantation. No signs of lung rejection were observed, so the drug was not usedoIn immunosuppressive. After twooch months after transplantation, pigs remained healthy.

Bioengineering is something of a Holy Grail in transplantology. Organs grown in this wayob are formed from comoRecipient’s record, so the body does not reject the transplant. Organs created in this way may in the future completely replace organs taken from donorsow.

In this experiment, the lung was grown on a scaffold from another organ, but in the future such a „Skeleton” mowould be printed using 3D printing technology.

– Our ultimate goal is to provide new options for many osob waiting for a transplant – said Joan Nicholas of UTMB, head of theowny author of the publication. – We are able to download the comostem cells from a particular person and grow from them an organ that willowhich will be their organ, the tissue will be matched to that particular person, and the organ will function as their own lung originally did, and without the need to suppress the immune system response – added.

– In 5-10 years – predicted Joaquin Cortiella of UTMB, cooauthor of the publication – bioengineered organ will be transplanted into humans. Such lungs can be made at any time, so a person won’t have to wait until the organ is available to them – explained Cortiella.

– We observed no signs of pulmonary edema, which is usually a sign of an insufficiently mature vascular system. Transplanted organs developed without any infusion of factoroin growth – The body provided all the components needed by the new lungs. We also know that the animals had 100 percent oxygen saturation because they had one normally functioning lung – emphasized Cortiella.

Now the researchers want to test the functioning of the lungs and the pig’s long-term. Human studies, whichowho no longer have other treatment options, should begin within the next five years – scientists say.