ObjectiveTo explore the effect of transplanting neonatal porcine islet cells of pig via hepatic portal vein in type Ⅰ diabetic monkeys.MethodIn this study, three pig-monkey islet xenotransplantation experiments were carried out by using α-1, 3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene knockout neonatal pig islet cells.ResultsThree macaques were successfully transplanted with islet cells. After the operation, their vital signs were stable and no symptoms of venous embolism occurred. After transplantation, the blood glucose and the dosage of exogenous insulin were significantly reduced, and the specific porcine C-peptide could be detected. Three macaques developed symptoms of ketoacidosis, and one macaque developed wound infection. After symptomatic treatment, all of them survived for 16 weeks.ConclusionGGTA1 knockout neonatal porcine islet cells transplanted through hepatic portal vein is effective for the treatment of type Ⅰ diabetes.
On January 7, 2022, the University of Maryland Medical Center reported that the world’s first gene-edited pig heart was successfully transplanted into a 57-year-old man with end-stage heart disease, causing a global attention. The first gene-edited pig heart transplanted into a human successfully survived for 59 d without showing early signs of rejection, creating a history of xenotransplantation and marking a key step forward the clinical development of xenotransplantation. This article focuses on the role of gene editing in alleviating immune rejection, summarizes the case of xenotransplantation at the Maryland Medical Center, and outlines the current status of xenotransplantation and the unresolved issues of xenotransplantation. It is expected that xenotransplantation can successfully enter the clinic in the near future.