A modified kidney with a "universal" blood type is transplanted into a human for the first time

The prestigious scientific journal Nature has reported that scientists have managed to change the blood type of a donor kidney and successfully transplant it into a human. The procedure — the first of its kind — could usher in a new era in organ transplants, as it will make it possible for the donor's blood type to no longer be a barrier to compatibility.

Currently, donated organs can only be transplanted into people with a compatible blood type.

The reason is that the recipient's immune system can produce antibodies that attack the foreign organ if the donor and recipient have different antigens — which are divided into two types: A and B. Organs with blood type O have neither A nor B antigens, so they can be used for anyone.

A team of researchers from Canada and China used a special enzyme to remove type A antigens from a donor kidney, converting it to type O.

“This enzyme converts type A blood to type O,” explained Stephen Withers, a chemist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. The processed kidney was then transplanted into a 68-year-old brain-dead man in Chongqing, China.

The organ remained functional for two days and produced urine for six days before showing signs of rejection. The results were published today in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.

This enzyme was first discovered in 2019 by several members of the same team. In 2022, they demonstrated that even a type A lung could be converted to type O, although it was not transplanted into a person.

These findings are historic, said Natasha Rogers, a transplant doctor at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. She said they could improve access to donor organs and significantly shorten waiting lists.

If blood type were no longer a limitation, doctors could focus on matching other antigens that affect transplant longevity.