Chinese researchers have made significant advancements in the field of animal-to-human organ transplants, achieving a successful pig kidney transplant and indicating potential for pig livers as well. A Chinese patient has become the third individual worldwide to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, with promising results. Additionally, the research team conducted an experiment involving the implantation of a pig liver into a brain-dead individual.
Scientists are modifying pig organs genetically to make them more compatible with humans, aiming to address the shortage of organs available for transplant. While initial xenotransplants in the U.S. were short-lived, recent successes include two pig kidney recipients who are thriving—a woman in Alabama transplanted in November and a man in New Hampshire transplanted in January. A U.S. clinical trial is on the horizon.
Nearly three weeks post-surgery, the Chinese patient who received the pig kidney is reported to be in good health, with the organ functioning well. Dr. Lin Wang of Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an shared these updates with the media, highlighting the potential for further advancements in xenotransplantation—specifically, the transplantation of pig livers. In a study published in Nature, Wang’s team reported that a pig liver transplanted into a brain-dead individual survived for 10 days without signs of rejection, demonstrating some functional capabilities such as bile and albumin production.
Although the complexity of the liver presents challenges due to its diverse functions, Wang expressed optimism about the potential of pig livers to support failing human livers. In another experimental procedure, Wang’s team implanted a pig liver alongside a deceased person’s own liver, a method that sparked interest and raised questions among experts in the field.
Further research is ongoing, with plans to analyze the outcomes of these innovative procedures. While the road ahead may pose challenges, the progress made by the Chinese researchers marks a significant step in the advancement of xenotransplantation techniques.
This article is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The content is the responsibility of The Associated Press.
