A team of international scientists from the Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC) has achieved a remarkable scientific breakthrough that previously seemed confined to the realm of science fiction. As reported in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, they have successfully established a “factory” for producing human organoids derived from stem cells, which were then integrated into the kidneys of living pigs, resulting in a functional hybrid organ.
Experts indicate that this pioneering technique has yielded promising results in initial laboratory tests. If this progress continues, it could eventually be applied in clinical settings to extend the viability of organs intended for transplantation. “The long-term goal would be to regenerate or repair an organ before transplantation. This could reduce waiting times for chronic patients and increase the number of viable organs available for transplant,” the researchers noted.
The study is led by Nuria Montserrat, the current Catalan Minister for Research and Universities, who has received numerous awards for her work in regenerative medicine and the design of artificial kidneys prior to her current position. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her models were utilized to test drugs against the virus and to investigate the disease”s impact on human tissues. After more than a decade of research, Montserrat”s team announced their achievement of combining human kidney organoids with living pig kidneys for the first time.
This achievement represents a significant technical milestone. According to the researchers, the experiment began with the establishment of a “factory” capable of producing thousands of human kidney organoids using advanced genetic engineering techniques. Once this process was perfected, these small three-dimensional structures were inserted into the kidneys of live pigs. The technique involved the use of normothermic perfusion machines, devices used in hospitals to keep organs functioning prior to transplantation. This combination of techniques has led to the creation of a hybrid organ between human and pig tissues.
The successful production of these organoids marks a major scientific and technical advance. “One of the major challenges in using organoids for real treatments has been to produce them in a scalable, uniform, and affordable manner. With our new method, we have managed to generate thousands of kidney organoids under controlled conditions in a short time, with high precision and without the need for complex components,” stated Elena Garreta, a senior researcher at IBEC and the study”s first author.
The development of this process opens the door to applications such as generating artificial organs for testing drug efficacy or studying the impact of diseases on human tissues. The creation of the hybrid kidney was just the first step in the study. Following this, the hybrid organs were transplanted back into the same animal. Analysis revealed that 24 to 48 hours post-transplant, the human organoids remained integrated and active within the kidney tissue of the pig, without causing damage or adverse immune reactions. Furthermore, the organ maintained its normal function throughout the experiment, confirming the viability of the procedure and marking a true feat of modern bioengineering.
This result demonstrates that the tiny organs created in the laboratory can be integrated, coexist, and function alongside a real organ without compromising its health, a crucial step toward future regenerative therapies and personalized transplants. “Our research shows that the combination of organoid technologies and ex vivo perfusion can enable cellular interventions in fully controlled conditions,” Montserrat stated following the publication of this work. This means the scientists have found a way to manipulate and repair an organ outside the body, in a safe and controlled environment, before transplanting it back into the patient.
This approach could lead to the regeneration of damaged tissues, improvement in the quality of organs intended for transplantation, and a reduction in the risk of rejection once inside the patient. “The long-term goal is to be able to regenerate or repair an organ before transplantation. This could reduce waiting times for chronic patients and increase the number of viable organs for transplant,” Montserrat added.
The results of this work stem from an international collaboration with institutions such as the Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (ONT), and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. While their success is currently confined to laboratories, experts assert that the promising results could soon lead to the first human clinical trials. Although it may take years for this strategy to be fully implemented in hospitals, having demonstrated its technical viability, this tool paves the way for a future where organs are not only transplanted but also repaired, optimized, and perhaps one day custom-made to save millions of lives worldwide.
