In a groundbreaking medical development, Chinese doctors have successfully transplanted a liver from a genetically modified pig into a brain-dead human for the first time. This achievement opens up new possibilities for life-saving donor options for patients in need of organ transplants in the future.
Pigs have emerged as the most suitable animal organ donors, with previous successful transplants of pig kidneys and hearts in the United States. However, liver transplants have presented more challenges and had not been previously tested in humans. With a growing demand for liver donations worldwide, researchers are hopeful that gene-edited pigs can provide temporary relief to patients on long waiting lists.
The recent study, published in the journal Nature, details how doctors at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China, implanted a liver from a miniature pig with six edited genes into a brain-dead adult patient. The transplant, known as an auxiliary transplant, aimed to support the patient’s original liver as a “bridge organ” until a human donor became available.
Over a 10-day period, the doctors monitored the pig liver’s functions, including blood flow, bile production, and immune response. The liver performed well, producing bile and albumin, essential proteins for liver function. While this achievement is significant, more research is needed to determine if pig organs can fully replace human livers.
Oxford University transplantation professor Peter Friend praised the study’s results as valuable and impressive. However, he noted that pig liver transplants are not yet a replacement for human liver donations. Collaboration with US researchers has been vital in advancing this research, with plans to conduct further trials with gene-edited pig livers in living humans.
The ultimate goal is to provide support for patients with liver failure using genetically modified pig organs. While challenges remain, this innovative approach offers hope for patients awaiting life-saving liver transplants. The medical community continues to explore new possibilities in organ transplantation, pushing the boundaries of science and medicine to improve patient outcomes.
