A groundbreaking medical achievement has been reached: a genetically modified pig liver has successfully functioned inside a human body for over a week. Researchers in China detailed this first-of-its-kind accomplishment in a study published in Nature. The liver, transplanted into a brain-dead recipient, survived and performed basic functions for 10 days, offering hope for xenotransplantation as a viable option for organ transplantation.
With over 100,000 Americans on the organ transplant waiting list and an estimated 17 deaths daily while waiting, the need for alternative organ sources is critical. Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of animal organs into humans, has recently emerged as a potential solution due to advancements in gene editing. These technologies allow scientists to modify pig organs to be more compatible with human biology, minimizing the risk of rejection. One common modification is the removal of alpha-gal, a sugar produced by pigs but not humans.
Xenotransplantation Procedure and Results
The research team, including members from Xijing Hospital at Fourth Military Medical University, transplanted a liver from a Bama miniature pig (a common research breed) with six gene edits into the brain-dead recipient. The recipient also received immunosuppressants to prevent rejection. The study lasted 10 days and was terminated at the family’s request.
Throughout the 10-day period, the transplanted liver functioned successfully, showing no signs of immediate rejection. Within two hours, bile production began, and healthy blood flow was maintained. This marks a significant step forward from previous research, such as the 2024 University of Pennsylvania study where a pig liver was connected to a brain-dead recipient externally for three days. This new study represents the first peer-reviewed documentation of a successful transplantation of a gene-edited pig liver.
The Future of Xenotransplantation
While this achievement is promising, widespread use of pig-derived organs is still far off. Recent transplants of pig kidneys and hearts in terminally ill patients have resulted in only two surviving recipients, the longest surviving for approximately four months after receiving a pig kidney in late November 2024. Larger clinical trials are imminent, but experts caution that achieving the long-term survivability of human organ transplants with animal organs will take time.
Bridging the Gap
Even before achieving long-term viability, xenotransplantation offers a potential bridge therapy. Because the recipient’s original liver remained intact during the study, gene-edited pig organs could temporarily support patients on the transplant waiting list or those whose organs need time to recover. This bridging function could significantly reduce waiting list mortality and improve patient outcomes.
Conclusion
The successful transplantation of a gene-edited pig liver is a monumental step towards addressing the critical shortage of donor organs. While challenges remain in achieving long-term survival comparable to human organ transplants, xenotransplantation offers a ray of hope for thousands awaiting life-saving transplants. Further research and clinical trials are crucial to realizing the full potential of this groundbreaking medical advancement.
