Geneticists from the University of Cambridge have successfully altered the blood type in the kidneys of three deceased donors.
In their work, scientists usednormothermic perfusion machine. This device connects to the human kidney and mimics the circulatory system to pump oxygenated blood through the organ. This technology allows organs to remain viable for longer.
The researchers added a special enzyme to the blood that acted like "molecular scissors," removing the blood group markers (antigens) lining the blood vessels of the kidneys, causing the organ to turn into the most common type O (blood group I).
A kidney from a person with blood type A (group II)cannot be transplanted to a person with blood group B (group III) and vice versa. This is due to the presence of certain antigens: in a person with type A antigens, immunity produces antibodies against type B antigens. But changing the blood type of the kidney to universal will allow more transplants, since such organs can be used for people with any blood type without the risk of rejection.
One of the biggest restrictions on who can get a donor kidney is the fact that you must have a compatible blood type.
Mike Nicholson, professor of transplant surgery at the University of Cambridge
Before the new method can beused in real medical operations, scientists are investigating how the "universal" kidney will work in the normal circulatory system of patients with blood types II and III. They plan to conduct testing using a perfusion machine, passing blood of various groups through the organ, and then conduct clinical trials in humans.
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