Breakthrough Pig Liver Transplant Performed in China Sparks Hope for Future Organ Donor Solutions

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Chinese doctors have successfully implanted a liver from a genetically modified pig into a brain-dead human for the first time, announcing the breakthrough in the journal Nature. Conducted on March 10, 2024, at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi'an, this procedure marks a significant step in addressing the global shortage of human liver donors.

Pigs have increasingly been recognized as viable organ donors, with several successful kidney and heart transplants documented in the United States. Researchers believe gene-edited pigs could provide much-needed temporary relief for patients awaiting human liver transplants. The study involved an auxiliary transplant, allowing the patient to retain their original liver while monitoring the pig liver's function for ten days. The results showed that the pig liver performed well, producing bile and key proteins, according to Lin Wang, a co-author of the study.

Experts caution that further research is essential before this approach can be considered a viable alternative to human donor organs. Peter Friend, a professor at Oxford University, called the results "valuable and impressive," but emphasized that they do not replace human liver transplants. Collaboration with U.S. researchers will continue to play a crucial role in advancing this promising field.

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