Hydrogen Gas and Kidney Transplant Preservation in Pigs
Prevention of Chronic Rejection of Marginal Kidney Graft by Using a Hydrogen Gas-Containing Preservation Solution and Adequate Immunosuppression in a Miniature Pig Model
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (pig)
- Authors
- Kotaro Nishi, Satomi Iwai, Kazuki Tajima, Shozo Okano, Motoaki Sano, Eiji Kobayashi
- Journal
- Frontiers in Immunology
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 33679720
- Study Type
- Pig
- Delivery
- Solution (Dissolved)
- Dose
- hydrogen gas-containing preservation solution
- Duration
- 3 months
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 12 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Treating donor kidneys with hydrogen gas can reduce the risk of long-term rejection in transplants from less ideal donors.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas-treated kidney preservation solution combined with optimal immunosuppressive drugs significantly reduced chronic rejection in marginal kidney grafts in a pig transplant model, with most grafts remaining free of rejection-related damage beyond 100 days.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen gas added to a kidney preservation solution could prevent long-term rejection in transplanted kidneys from marginal donors (those with lower quality organs). Using a pig model, they transplanted kidneys preserved with hydrogen gas and gave the animals strong anti-rejection medications. Most transplanted kidneys survived over 100 days without developing chronic rejection, a condition where scar tissue and inflammation gradually damage the graft.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in pigs, not humans, so it's too soon to draw conclusions about hydrogen water for kidney transplant patients. The study suggests hydrogen gas in preservation solutions may help protect marginal donor kidneys during transplantation, but human clinical trials would be needed to confirm whether this approach could improve outcomes in actual transplant recipients.
Abstract (excerpt)
In clinical kidney transplantation, the marginal kidney donors are known to develop chronic allograft rejection more frequently than living kidney donors. In our previous study, we have reported that the hydrogen gas-containing organ preservation solution prevented the development of acute injuries…