In the world of organ transplantation, the viability of donated livers is a critical factor that can determine whether a recipient’s life is saved or not. Currently, a staggering 36% of donated livers are discarded due to uncertainties about their quality and functionality. However, a breakthrough in research involving interspecies mitochondrial studies could revolutionize the field of organ transplantation, particularly liver transplants.
A key player in this groundbreaking research is the 3DR Group, whose recent study published in the scientific journal Acta Physiologia has shed light on the differences between cardiac mitochondria in anoxia-tolerant crucian carp fish and anoxia-intolerant mice. The study revealed that the antioxidant defenses in the fish were stronger, producing fewer harmful reactive oxygen compounds. These findings have significant implications for improving the success rate of liver transplants.
Professor Kåre-Olav Stensløkken, leading the research on crucian carp, highlighted the fish’s unique ability to survive without oxygen for extended periods and avoid oxygen-related damage when oxygen levels return. This resilience has sparked intensive research into the fish’s mitochondrial processes, which could hold the key to enhancing the viability of donated livers for transplantation.
Collaborating with experts in mitochondria and heart attacks at Cambridge, Stensløkken and his team are unraveling the mechanisms that allow crucian carp to thrive in low-oxygen environments. Meanwhile, Professor Søren Pischke and his group are spearheading clinical research at the Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Anesthesiology, and Intensive Medicine, with the goal of implementing a new liver perfusion machine at the Norwegian National Hospital.
The liver perfusion machine plays a crucial role in assessing the quality and viability of donated livers outside the recipient’s body, ensuring that more organs can be tested and transplanted successfully. Professor Pischke anticipates a 20-30% increase in viable livers available for transplantation once the new machine is fully operational in 2025.
Moreover, the collaboration between the 3DR Group and transplant surgeons is paving the way for a future where fewer organs are discarded, and more patients receive life-saving liver transplants. By focusing on improving mitochondrial function and resilience in livers, the research team aims to optimize organ transplantation outcomes and save countless lives.
As the research progresses, the hope is that the lessons learned from studying crucian carp will lead to innovative strategies for enhancing organ viability and improving transplantation success rates. The interdisciplinary nature of the 3DR Group’s work serves as a beacon of hope for patients in need of organ transplants and underscores the importance of collaborative research in advancing medical science.
