Context

Recently, US Surgeons said it’s the first time a pig kidney has been transplanted into a living person.

Xenotransplantation: Transplant Pig Kidney Into a Patient

• Previously, pig kidneys have been temporarily transplanted into brain-dead donors. 
• Pig Kidney Success (September 2021): In New York Hospital, a gene-edited pig kidney was successfully transplanted into a brain-dead patient. 
• Modified Pig Heart (January 2022 – University of Maryland): Doctors used a genetically modified pig heart for a patient with no other options. 
• German Organ Farm Initiative: A German doctor plans to establish a farm for cultivating genetically modified organs, aiming to address organ scarcity and enhance transplantation possibilities.

About Xenotransplantation

• A Transplantation Process: 

  • Xenotransplantation is the process of transplanting organs from one species to another, particularly from animals to humans.It is any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation or infusion into a human recipient of either:
    • Live cells, tissues, or organs from a non-human animal source.
    • Human body fluids, cells, tissues or organs that have had ex-vivo contact with live non-human animal cells, tissues or organs.
      • Ex-vivo contact: It refers to a medical procedure in which an organ, cells, or tissue are taken from a living body for a treatment or procedure, and then returned to the living body.

• Need for Xenotransplantation:

• • Xenotransplantation is seen as an alternative to the clinical transplantation of human organs whose demand around the world is increasing.
    • Currently, over 100,000 individuals are on the national waiting list for organ transplants, with a majority of them in need of kidneys.
  • The recent advancements, including genetic modifications in pigs to render their organs more compatible with humans, have revitalized hopes of addressing the critical shortage of donated organs.

Reason to Choose Pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) for Transplantation

• Easy to Raise: They offer advantages over primates for organ procurements, because they are easier to raise and achieve adult human size in six months.
• Similar Physiology & Anatomy: The pig’s anatomical and physiological parameters are similar to that of humans and the breeding of pigs in farms is widespread and cost-effective.
• Matched with the Need: Many varieties of pig breeds are farmed, which provides an opportunity for the size of the harvested organs to be matched with the specific needs of the human recipient.

Ethical Issues in Xenotransplantation

• Animal Rights: Critics from the animal rights movement argue that xenotransplantation disregards the rights of animals. They assert that animals have intrinsic rights that should not be violated for human benefit.
• Anthropocentrism and Moral Responsibility: Xenotransplantation often reflects an anthropocentric view, where humans prioritize their needs over animals. This philosophy raises ethical concerns and is seen as a contributing factor to ecological crises.
• Medical Implications: Xenotransplants pose substantial risks due to the potential for organ rejection and unknown consequences. 
• Religious Conflicts: Transplanting pig organs may create ethical conflicts for individuals whose religious principles prohibit interactions with pigs, potentially limiting their medical options.