Gene-edited pig cardiac xenotransplantation as a bridge to allotransplantation in infants: Progress in a pig-to-baboon model.

ABSTRACT: Gene-edited pig hearts may have an application for critically ill infants who are poor candidates for mechanical support. We established a pediatric animal model of gene-edited pig orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation (OCXT) in baboons to assess its potential as a bridge to allotransplantation. Fifteen OCXTs were performed from genetically-engineered infantile pigs into size-matched baboons. Maintenance immunosuppression was founded on CD40/CD154 costimulation pathway blockade and rapamycin. After being sustained by xenografts for >4 months, 3 xenograft recipients were selected for transition to cardiac allotransplantation. Outcomes were tracked by invasive hemodynamic monitoring, surface echocardiography, and serial blood tests. After OCXT, 8 of 15 (53%) baboons achieved survival of >1

SUBMITTER: Cleveland JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12935157 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature