Surgeons from the Air Force Military Medical University’s Xijing Hospital have successfully transplanted a genetically altered pig liver into a brain-dead human for the second time.
For ten full days, the organ not only worked but also displayed no symptoms of inflammation or rejection. In the decades-long effort to address the world’s organ shortage, this is the most encouraging development to date.
The liver was taken from a Bama tiny pig and modified with six genetic changes. Why a pig? Pig organs are perfect for transplant research because of their striking resemblance to human organs in terms of size and shape.
However, replacing the liver has proven to be the most difficult of all the organs. The liver performs more than 500 intricate tasks, including bile production, nutritional balance, and toxin filtering, in contrast to the heart or kidney. It is, in essence, the biochemical powerhouse of the organism.
The research team’s leader, Dr. Lin Wang, called the endeavor “a great achievement” but also “just a beginning.” The original liver of the brain-dead donor was left intact while the pig liver was transplanted into their body.
This made it possible for researchers to keep an eye on the new organ’s performance without depending entirely on it. It succeeded in managing blood flow, preventing inflammation, and demonstrating the ability to help patients in dire need.
The second-highest number of Americans awaiting a liver transplant, behind kidney transplants, is over 9,000. Many people pass away each year before a donor becomes available.
A functioning pig liver, even for a brief while, could buy these sufferers some time. It might serve as a biological life raft, providing medical professionals with a crucial window of opportunity to discover a long-term fix.
Dr. Wang’s group was the first in China to successfully transplant a pig’s liver into a monkey back in 2013. The monkey lived for fourteen days. The group has made steady progress since then, from kidneys to livers and from monkeys to people. Their most recent accomplishment gives the science of transplanting animal organs into humans, or xenotransplantation, a significant boost.
But there are still difficulties. Because the liver manufactures proteins in quantities that are particular to human needs and has two blood supplies, liver xenotransplants are complicated. According to American transplant specialist
Dr. Shimul Shah, we’re getting close, but not quite there yet. The heart simply beats. The kidney produces urine. The liver? It accomplishes everything,” he clarified. Although the team has previously tried a transplant in which the entire human liver was removed, the outcomes have not yet been made public.
Crucially, this experiment was terminated after ten days at the family’s desire rather than due to failure. However, the pig liver performed its intended function even in that brief period. It worked. It recovered. Additionally, it paved the way for what could eventually become the norm.
Dr. Parsia Vagefi of UT Southwestern stated, “This study shows we’re finally on the right track, but we’re not at the finish line.”
