Overview

• Surgeons at Guangzhou Medical University implanted a left lung from a gene-edited pig into a brain-dead 39-year-old man with family consent, leaving his right native lung in place.
• The donor Bama Xiang pig underwent six CRISPR-based modifications and was raised under strict biosecurity to lower rejection and infection risks.
• Investigators saw no hyperacute rejection or early infection, but fluid accumulation and inflammation appeared within 24 hours.
• Antibody-mediated rejection was detected on days 3 and 6, and the experiment was stopped on day 9 at the family’s request after progressive damage.
• Experts describe the case as a valuable but limited advance, noting the native lung likely compensated and that lungs pose distinctive immunologic challenges not yet solved.