Successfully changing blood group in transplanted organs

For the first time, Canadian scientists have successfully converted blood types in human organs for transplant technology.

Switching blood types makes the donated organ possible for anyone.

According to Sputnik, this breakthrough method was published in the medical journal Science Translational Medicine on February 16.

The Latner Thoracic Surgery Laboratory and the Ajmera Transplant Center of the UHN hospital network (Canada) have demonstrated that it is possible to safely switch blood types in donated organs for transplantation. . For example, organs from a donor with type O blood are considered common because there are no binding antigens including proteins A and B in the blood. This means that the organs are compatible with all patients, including those with the rarest blood type AB.

Canadian scientists have successfully converted all blood types in transplanted organs to type O by using the enzyme FpGalNAc-deacetylase and the enzyme FpGalactosaminidase to remove antigens from the blood. The enzymatic process that destroys the adherent antigens lasts 4 hours.

In the early stages, the scientists tested the method on aortic tissue. They then proceeded to successfully destroy the protein A antigen in eight lung samples.