Human Heart Tissue Grown in Pig Embryo, Beats for 21 Days
In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers in China have successfully grown pig embryos containing beating hearts made partly of human cells. These embryos survived for 21 days in the lab and began developing organs with human-like characteristics. This pioneering breakthrough was presented at the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s annual meeting in Hong Kong.
The development of human-pig chimeras, where human cells are integrated into pig embryos, has the potential to revolutionize the field of organ transplantation. Currently, there is a significant shortage of organs available for transplantation, leading to a high mortality rate on waiting lists. By using pig embryos as a host for human cells, scientists may be able to grow organs that are compatible with human recipients.
The research was led by Dr. Jun Wu, a stem cell biologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Dr. Wu and his team used a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), which involves transferring the nucleus of a human cell into an egg cell that has had its own nucleus removed. The egg is then stimulated to divide and grow, eventually forming an embryo.
In this study, the researchers used human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are stem cells that can be derived from adult cells and have the ability to differentiate into any cell type in the body. They transferred the human iPSCs into pig eggs and allowed the embryos to develop for 21 days.
During this time, the human cells integrated into the pig embryo and began to develop into different tissues and organs. The researchers observed the formation of beating hearts, as well as the development of other organs such as the kidneys, liver, and pancreas.
One of the most significant findings of the study was the development of human-like characteristics in the organs. For example, the hearts that formed in the pig embryos had a human-like structure and were capable of beating for 21 days. The kidneys and liver also developed human-like features, including the formation of glomeruli and bile ducts, respectively.
While the study is still in its early stages, the implications are significant. The development of human-pig chimeras could potentially provide a new source of organs for transplantation, reducing the need for human-to-human organ transplantation and alleviating the shortage of available organs.
However, there are still many challenges to overcome before human-pig chimeras can be used for organ transplantation. For example, the immune system of the human recipient may still reject the pig-derived organ, and there are concerns about the potential for pig viruses to transmit to humans.
Despite these challenges, the researchers are optimistic about the potential of their technology. “We believe that our approach has the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional organ transplantation,” said Dr. Wu in a statement. “We are excited to continue exploring the possibilities of human-pig chimeras and to see where this technology takes us.”
The study was presented at the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s annual meeting in Hong Kong, where it was met with excitement and curiosity. The research has the potential to revolutionize the field of organ transplantation and could potentially save thousands of lives.
