Chinese Scientists Successfully Transplant Genetically Modified Pig Liver into Human

The breakthrough study, published in Nature, demonstrated the short-term functionality of the organ in a brain-dead recipient, advancing xenotransplantation research.

A genetically modified pig liver was transplanted into a brain-dead human recipient, functioning for 10 days without signs of rejection.
The liver, altered with six gene edits to improve compatibility, produced bile and albumin but showed limited capacity for long-term replacement of human liver functions.
The experiment, conducted at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China, was terminated at the request of the recipient’s family.
Researchers aim to use pig livers as temporary 'bridge organs' for patients awaiting human donors, addressing the global organ shortage.
The study, published in Nature, underscores the need for further trials to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of xenotransplantation in living patients.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation