Pig Kidney Transplantation Technology Was Born in The United States. The Core Personnel Is A Chinese. What Work Has She Done?

On March 16, 2024, the world's first living pig kidney transplant was completed in the United States, marking the official clinical use of pig kidney transplantation.

Click to Cistanche for kidney disease

The chief surgeon who performed the operation was a Japanese-American doctor, but the top-level designer and core technician of the pig kidney transplant was a Chinese-American female scientist named Tan Wenning. It is estimated that upon hearing the surname "Qin", someone will guess that her ancestral home is in Guangxi. She herself also introduced that she is from an ethnic minority in Guangxi, most likely Zhuang.

Dr. Qin was admitted to the Department of Health of Tongji Medical University in 1978. Shortly after graduation, he went to the United States to study. He worked in life science companies such as Monsanto and Pfizer, and later co-founded eGenesis Gene Technology Company and served as senior vice president.

The main problem of organ transplantation is that the source of organs is far from meeting the demand. If organs from animals are borrowed, the main obstacle is genetic incompatibility. How to accept pig organs into the human body, that is, the problem of genetic matching, becomes pig kidneys. Difficulties or bottlenecks in transplantation.

Dr. Qin's scientific research team solved this bottleneck. They chose Mexican Yucatan miniature pigs, which are slightly larger than Guangxi's Bama pigs, with adult pigs weighing about 70kg. The heart and kidneys are about the same size as a human being.

Someone said, why not use organs from monkeys or orangutans, our close relatives? Compared with monkeys and orangutans, pigs are easier to raise, have a shorter maturation period, reproduce quickly, can have several litters, have lower costs, and are more abundant in supply. Modifying the genes of pigs is not much more difficult than modifying the genes of monkeys and orangutans.

Dr. Qin's research team has made 69 modifications to pig genes, including knocking out 3 genes that cause rejection, knocking out porcine retrovirus genes, and inserting 7 human genes, mainly to reduce rejection. . Dr. Qin also named the first editorial pig born in 2018 Gou Sheng, which is full of Chinese colors.

They first conducted animal experiments and transplanted genetically modified pig kidneys into monkeys. The monkey survived for more than two years.

The researchers improved while experimenting. After successful animal experiments, they began to experiment on brain-dead people. Finally, after FDA approval, they transplanted genetically modified pig kidneys into living bodies, with initial success.

After the bottleneck of genetic modification is broken, pig heart transplantation, pig liver transplantation, pig pancreas transplantation, etc. are not far away.

In fact, many scientific innovations were accumulated bit by bit. Before the successful pig kidney transplant, many scientists had been working silently for many years.

Pay tribute to this Chinese scientist, all scientific researchers, and the patient!

How Does Cistanche Treat Kidney Disease?

Cistanche is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for centuries to treat various health conditions, including kidney disease. It is derived from the dried stems of Cistanche deserticola, a plant native to the deserts of China and Mongolia. The main active components of cistanche are phenylethanoid glycosides, echinacoside, and acteoside, which have been found to have beneficial effects on kidney health.

Kidney disease, also known as renal disease, refers to a condition in which the kidneys are not functioning properly. This can result in a buildup of waste products and toxins in the body, leading to various symptoms and complications. Cistanche may help treat kidney disease ase through several mechanisms.

Firstly, cistanche has been found to have diuretic properties, meaning it can increase urine production and help eliminate waste products from the body. This can help relieve the burden on the kidneys and prevent the buildup of toxins. By promoting diuresis, cistanche may also help Reduce high blood pressure, a common complication of kidney disease.

Moreover, cistanche has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body's antioxidant defenses, plays a key role in the progression of kidney disease. ies help neutralize free radicals and reduce Oxidative stress, thereby protecting the kidneys from damage. The phenylethanoid glycosides found in cistanche have been particularly effective in scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Additionally, cistanche has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is another key factor in the development and progression of kidney disease. Cistanche's anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit the activation of inflammation mandatory pathways, thus alleviating inflammation in the kidneys.

Furthermore, cistanche has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. In kidney disease, the immune system can be dysregulated, leading to excessive inflammation and tissue damage. Cistanche helps regulate the immune response by modulating the production and activity of immune cells, such as T cells and macrophages. This immune regulation helps reduce inflammation and prevent further damage to the kidneys.

Moreover, cistanche has been found to improve renal function by promoting the regeneration of renal tubes with cells. Renal tubular epithelial cells play a crucial role in the filtration and reabsorption of waste products and electrolytes. In kidney disease, these cells can be damaged, leading to damaged renal function. Cistanche's ability to promote the regeneration of these cells helps restore proper renal function and improve overall kidney health.

In addition to these direct effects on the kidneys, cistanche has been found to have beneficial effects on other organs and systems in the body. This holistic approach to health is particularly important in kidney disease, as the condition often affects multiple organs and systems. che has been shown to have protective effects on the liver, heart, and blood vessels, which are commonly affected by kidney disease. By promoting the health of these organs, cistanche helps improve overall kidney function and prevent further complications.

In conclusion, cistanche is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for centuries to treat kidney disease. Its active components have diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative effects, which help improve renal function and protect the kidneys from further damage. , cistanche has beneficial effects on other organs and systems, making it a holistic approach to treating kidney disease.