In recent developments in xenotransplantation, researchers in China have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a brain-dead patient, as reported in a study published in Nature. This marks a significant advancement, following earlier transplants of pig kidneys and hearts in the past year.
The study involved a pig liver that had undergone six genetic modifications to reduce the chances of immune rejection when transplanted into a human. The liver was connected to the patient’s blood vessels, allowing researchers to monitor its functions, including bile secretion and albumin production. Dr. Lin Wang, a senior surgeon involved in the research, noted that the pig liver demonstrated promising functionality by producing bile just two hours after transplantation and showing no signs of immune rejection during the 10-day observation period.
The experiment was conducted with the consent of the patient’s family, and the original liver was not removed, aiming instead to evaluate whether the pig liver could provide supplementary support to a failing liver. While the pig liver did not fully replicate all functions of a human liver, the results suggest potential for future applications, particularly for patients awaiting liver transplants.
Dr. Wang’s team has a history of conducting similar experiments with gene-edited pig organs in other species, including monkeys, and has also performed skin transplants using pig-derived skin on human patients. The complexities of liver functions present challenges, but the ongoing research indicates a pathway toward utilizing pig organs for human transplant needs, with plans for further studies in the near future.
