Chinese Doctors Implant Pig Liver in Human for First Time
Pigs Emerge as Best Animal Organ Donors
Pigs have emerged as the best animal organ donors, with several US patients having received pig kidneys or hearts in recent years.
Breakthrough in Liver Transplantation
Chinese doctors at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China, have announced a breakthrough in liver transplantation, successfully implanting a liver from a genetically modified pig into a brain-dead human patient for the first time.
Gene-Edited Pig Liver
The liver was taken from a miniature pig with six edited genes to make it a better donor. The trial was conducted on March 10, 2024, and was terminated after 10 days at the request of the patient’s family, following strict ethical guidelines.
Results
The pig liver “functioned really well” and “smoothly secreted bile” as well as producing the key protein albumin, according to study co-author Lin Wang of the Xi’an hospital. The patient, who still had their original liver, received an auxiliary transplant.
Future Prospects
The hope is that this kind of transplant can serve as a “bridge organ” to support the existing liver of sick people waiting on a human donor. The study’s results raise hopes of a live-saving donor option for patients in the future.
Expert Reaction
Oxford University transplantation professor Peter Friend, who was not involved in the study, hailed the results as “valuable and impressive.” However, he emphasized that this is not a replacement for liver transplantation from human donors, at least in the near-term.
Future Trials
The next step is to trial the gene-edited pig liver in a living human. Lin emphasized the importance of collaboration with US researchers, stating that they have learned a lot from previous research performed in the US.
FAQs
* Q: Is this a replacement for human liver transplantation?
A: No, not in the near-term.
* Q: What is the goal of this study?
A: To provide a “bridge organ” to support the existing liver of sick people waiting on a human donor.
* Q: What is the next step?
A: To trial the gene-edited pig liver in a living human.
* Q: Is this a breakthrough?
A: Yes, it is a significant step forward in the field of liver transplantation.