Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully changed the blood type of three donor kidneys in a major breakthrough that could make a big difference to those in need of transplants.
A kidney from a donor with type A blood cannot be transplanted to some with a type B and the other way around. Changing the blood type to O would make a kidney available to a recipient with either blood type.
This new development could increase the number of kidneys available to people in need of transplants, particularly people from ethnic minority backgrounds who are less likely to find a match. Minority groups often have type B blood, which is less common in this part of the world.
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The researchers used a machine that pumps blood infused with a special enzyme to flush out the blood in the donated kidney. The enzyme removes blood type markers on the edges of blood vessels in the kidney, converting the blood type to the universal O.
“It’s very exciting to think about how this could potentially impact so many lives,” said Serena MacMillan, one of the researchers on the project.
The next step in the project, before it can be tested on human patients, is to use the same machine to test the changed kidney’s reaction to a different type of blood. Once that happens, human trials will be the next step.
The research was funded by a charity called Kidney Research UK and the results are set to published in the next few months.
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