In a breakthrough experiment, scientists in China have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a brain-dead human. This transplant, carried out in March 2024, is part of an ongoing effort to use pig organs to help patients with severe liver failure.
The procedure was conducted by surgeons from Xijing Hospital at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an. It follows a similar experiment in the United States, marking a key step forward in the field of xenotransplantation, the process of transferring organs from one species to another. Since 2022, pig kidneys and hearts have been transplanted into humans, with some patients surviving for weeks.
This new study offers more evidence that genetically modified pig organs could eventually meet the growing demand for human organ donations. Thousands of people die each year while waiting for a transplant.
The Study and Its Findings
The transplant was first reported last year, but new findings published in Nature offer further details on the procedure. The researchers focused on how the genetically modified pig liver functioned inside the human body.
Dr. Lin Wang, a senior author of the study, explained, “This is the first time we’ve tried to determine whether a pig liver can function well in the human body.” Unlike previous transplants, the surgeons did not remove the patient’s original liver. Instead, they inserted the pig liver while causing minimal disruption to the existing organ.
The pig liver had been genetically modified by editing six of its genes. These changes aimed to improve the liver’s compatibility with the human body, including inserting human genes and removing pig genes that could cause rejection.
Over a period of 10 days, the transplanted liver maintained stable blood flow and showed no signs of rejection. It also produced bile, which helps with digestion, and albumin, a protein that regulates fluids in the body. However, the pig liver did not produce the same amount of bile and albumin as a human liver would, and researchers noted that it was “unlikely” to sustain the human body for an extended period.
The experiment ended after 10 days at the request of the patient’s family. Scientists did not determine how long the pig liver could have functioned, but the results suggest it could serve as a temporary solution for patients awaiting a permanent liver transplant.
What This Means for Liver Failure Patients
The findings show that pig livers could act as a “bridge therapy” for patients with severe liver failure. In such cases, the original liver may still function partially, while the pig liver provides additional support. This development could be crucial for patients in urgent need of a liver transplant.
Globally, over 41,000 liver transplants were performed in 2023, but organ shortages continue to be a major issue. The ability to use pig organs could help expand the pool of available organs, potentially saving many lives.
Professor Iván Fernández Vega, an expert in pathological anatomy at the University of Oviedo in Spain, noted that while the study represents a pioneering advance, larger trials with more participants are necessary to assess the safety and effectiveness of the procedure.
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