U.S. performs first human transplant of genetically modified pig kidney

LOS ANGELES, March 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. surgeons have performed the world's first successful transplant of a genetically-edited pig kidney into a 62-year-old man living with end-stage kidney disease, Massachusetts General Hospital announced on Thursday.

Surgeons from the hospital's Mass General Transplant Center conducted the four-hour-long surgery last Saturday. The procedure marks a major milestone in the quest to provide more readily available organs to patients, said the hospital.

The patient is recovering well and is expected to be discharged soon, according to the hospital.

"Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure," said Tatsuo Kawai, director of the hospital's Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplant Tolerance.

The pig kidney was provided from a pig donor that was genetically-edited using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to remove harmful pig genes and add certain human genes to improve its compatibility with humans.

Additionally, scientists inactivated porcine endogenous retroviruses in the pig donor to eliminate any risk of infection in humans, according to the hospital.