Static lung storage at 10°C maintains mitochondrial health and preserves donor organ function

-acetylglutamine were present in greater intensities in lungs stored at 10°C than at 4°C. Analysis of mitochondrial injury markers further confirmed that 10°C storage resulted in greater protection of mitochondrial health. We applied this strategy clinically to prolong preservation of human donor lungs beyond the currently accepted clinical preservation limit of about 6 to 8 hours. Five patients received donor lung transplants after a median preservation time of 10.4 hours (9.92 to 14.8 hours) for the first implanted lung and 12.1 hours (10.9 to 16.5 hours) for the second. All have survived the first 30 days after transplantation. There was no grade 3 primary graft dysfunction at 72 hours after transplantation, and median post-transplant mechanical ventilation time was 1.73 days (0.24 to 6.71 days). Preservation at 10°C could become the standard of care for prolonged pulmonary preservation, providing benefits to both patients and health care teams.