Attempts to transplant animal organs began well before those between humans, with trials mainly on primates and then pigs. However, insufficient immunology at the time and problems with organ rejection slowed down these projects, leading to the development of human-to-human allografts. Hyperacute rejection in xenotransplantation, where the immune system reacts violently within hours, has been one of the main obstacles preventing the viability of this technique.
Xenotransplantation: between technical feats and ethical dilemmas
The global organ shortage has maintained interest in xenotransplantation, and the advent of CRISPR-Cas9 has opened up new possibilities. In 2021, a pig kidney functioned for 54 hours on a brain-dead patient, then 32 days in 2023. These advances now make it possible to consider longer transplants in living patients. However, many challenges remain, including organ preservation and transport. Additionally, the ethics of breeding pigs specifically for organ transplants poses profound questions about our relationship with animals, a debate that will need to include all of society.
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