From pigs to patients: The omics edge in xenotransplantation

Only one in four transplant waitlisted patients receive a life-saving organ. Xenotransplantation of pig organs into humans is a promising avenue for addressing organ shortage. Understanding the immune and physiological responses in these xenotransplants is crucial for future success in compassionate use and first-in-human trials. Seven gene-edited pig organs were transplanted into brain dead or living human in NYU in the last 3 years. These studies allowed us to generate and combine a number of omic datasets, including extensive transcriptomics spanning PBMC bulk RNA-seq, tissue and PBMC sc/snRNAseq and spatial transcriptomics; and various targeted and untargeted proteomic and metabolomic profiling. Plasma and urine samples were collected every day along with frequent xenograft tissue biopsies. This presentation focuses on blood proteomics and metabolomics in these xenotransplant recipients and illustrates the power of integrative omics to detect physiological and immunological changes in these unique experiments.

 

Learning Objectives