Indeed, it is, and it marks a milestone in medical research as it transpired that doctors in China successfully transplanted genetically modified pig liver into brains-dead humans incredible milestone in seeking alternatives to organ donors. The procedure team at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an has been successful, and high hopes linger that one day pig organs could help fill the gaping hole left by the global liver transplant.
A New Era in Organ Transplantation
Seeing how pigs are valued and feel as an apparent best bet in animal-to-human organ transplantation, in itself, is quite exciting. Thus far, several patients have received whole organs from pigs-for instance, kidneys and hearts-in the United States. Among all organs whose transplantation has remained a challenge, the liver comes first because of its intricate physiology, which includes functions like filtering blood, breaking down toxins, and synthesizing important proteins and bile.
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Procedure
Doctors in China transplanted a liver from a genetically modified miniature pig into a brain-dead adult patient on March 10, 2024. The pig was genetically modified through six gene edits to reduce the risk of rejection and enhance compatibility with humans. The liver functioned auxiliary to the recipient’s existing liver and did not replace the liver.
The doctors monitored liver performance for 10 days by measuring blood flow, bile production, and immune response. As stated by Dr. Lin Wang, one of the co-authors of the study published in Nature, the pig liver worked well and produced bile and did generate the important protein albumin, but the amount of bile and albumin is very different from that produced by a human liver.
‘Bridge organ’ to patients
The goal was not to replace a human liver but to determine if genetically modified pig livers could, in theory, provide some kind of temporary support to patients who are very sick while they wait for their liver to be available. If successful, the treatment should stabilize some patients suffering from liver failure long enough to get a human donor liver.
