Gene therapy may double number of lungs fit for transplants

Published on Wednesday 28 October 2009 21:20

A PIONEERING technique could help repair lungs damaged during a patient's death and make them suitable for transplant patients, scientists have shown.

The two-step procedure, which involves gene therapy, has been successfully tested on pig and human lungs.

It could double the number of donor organs available to transplant patients, say the Canadian scientists.

They believe it may be possible to treat other transplant organs, such as kidneys and hearts, the same way.

Clinical trials are now planned in which consenting, critically ill patients will be given the "refurbished" lungs, should no other organs be available.

More than 80 per cent of potential donor lungs suffer inflammation and injury as a result of brain death and intensive care complications, which renders them unsuitable for transplantation.

Damaging inflammation, caused by an overactive immune response, also commonly occurs after transplant surgery.

The new approach involves preserving the lungs at body temperature inside a protective dome and pumping a solution of oxygen, proteins and nutrients over the damaged tissues.

The technique, known as the Toronto XVIVO Lung Perfusion System, allows the injured cells to begin repairing themselves and prepares them for stage two in the treatment process.

Next, a common cold virus is used to carry a gene called IL-10 into the lungs.

This has the effect of significantly improving blood flow and the lungs' ability to carry out the all-important function of gas exchange – taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide.

Clinical trials involving human patients would be the next step, said Dr Shaf Keshavjee of the University of Toronto, who led the research.