Preliminary results indicate that damaged pig lungs can be repaired and used for organ transplantation.
Inhalation of stomach contents refers to the invasion of stomach contents into the airway. This common injury may prevent the lung from being transplanted. Given that the world is currently facing a shortage of transplant donors, damaged lung regeneration technology is expected to expand the bank of organs suitable for transplantation. Matthew Bucketta and colleagues at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, USA, studied the possibility of regeneration of severely injured lungs to meet transplantation standards. The researchers reproduced the inhalation damage to the stomach contents of eight pigs, and connected the damaged lungs with the circulatory system of the recipient animal through an external support system to maintain the organs. With this cross-circulation system, the lungs of the donor can be maintained outside the pig for up to 36 hours, allowing a series of therapeutic interventions. This system can not only regenerate the damaged lung, but also improve its function. The regenerated lung can meet all transplant conditions.
However, the researchers said, further research is needed to determine the safety and methods of functional lung activity after lung transplantation. Since organ transplantation into the human body requires immunosuppressive therapy, it is necessary to further evaluate the effect of immunosuppression on lung suppression in the future.