<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A genetically modified pig lung has functioned in a human recipient for nine days in a major world first.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Research published in </span><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03861-x" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nature Medicine"><span>Nature Medicine</span></a><span> may represent the first documented instance of cross-species lung transplants, the authors said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In previous, similar studies, organs such as kidneys, livers, and hearts from gene-edited pigs have been feasibly transplanted into humans.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/erin-patterson-dangerous-inmate-only-cell-contact-for-mushroom-killer/9a992bf7-c2d3-4578-bb08-514649c9a4b5" target="_blank"><strong><span>Dangerous inmate only cell contact for mushroom killer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, lung transplantation brought new challenges due to the complexity of the organ.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The research team, from China's National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, transplanted the left lung of a gene-edited pig into a 39-year-old human recipient.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The recipient had previously been declared brain dead in four clinical assessments.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/genetically-modified-pig-lung-functions-days-inside-human-body-after-transplant/d0f9ca46-0785-402f-915c-0ea94c53339c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-post-united-states-usa-parcel-suspension-donald-trump-tariff/52615197-11c5-4e00-98f0-d0f576ba7159" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia Post suspends deliveries to the US after Trump tariffs</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pig had undergone gene editing to remove the antigens that could otherwise activate the human immune system and prompt a rejection.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study authors found the lung was accepted, and maintained "viability and functionality" for nine days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the researchers did observe signs of lung damage at 24 hours after the transplant, and signs of antibody-mediated rejection of the organ on day three and day six.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-suggests-us-may-like-a-dictator-in-threat-to-send-troops-to-chicago/6183008e-4f74-4774-b44b-f9bf0b7406c2" target="_blank"><strong><span>'A lot' of Americans would 'like a dictator', Trump says</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/08/25/11/37/today-in-history-august-26-what-happened-on-this-day"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/GbBtNlHeaodobTzsi6dbCH00ulE=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F352846d5-831b-452c-8754-31cae8d49e3d" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/GbBtNlHeaodobTzsi6dbCH00ulE=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F352846d5-831b-452c-8754-31cae8d49e3d 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/GHyCFz7N0_1_9RXgENOEMngDLQw=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F352846d5-831b-452c-8754-31cae8d49e3d 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Kidnapped woman emerges after 18 years</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/08/25/11/37/today-in-history-august-26-what-happened-on-this-day">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They terminated the experiment on day nine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The findings represent a first step for pig-to-human lung transplantation," the authors said in a release.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"However, improvements are needed to optimise both the genetic modifications made in the donor pig and the immunosuppressive drugs needed to avoid immune-mediated rejection of the lung and to maintain long-term function."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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