Pig kidney and liver transplants: Chinese researchers advance xenotransplantation with promising results. A patient in China is fully recovering after becoming the third person in the world to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig. Doctors have also conducted a groundbreaking experiment in which they transplant a pig’s liver onto a brain-dead person in an attempt to alleviate the present organ transplant shortage.
Successful Pig Kidney Transplant
The kidney transplant recipient, a 69-year-old woman with a history of kidney failure, received the organ at Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an. Almost three weeks post-surgery, both the patient and the kidney are functioning well.
This accomplishment comes after two patients in Alabama and New Hampshire had kidney transplants from pigs, marking recent triumphs in the United States. According to reports, both are doing well, and a clinical study is about to start.
Pig Liver Experiment Shows Potential
In a separate study, the Chinese research team implanted a pig liver into a brain-dead person, with the organ surviving for 10 days.Although the liver generated albumin and bile, its production was not comparable to that of a human liver.
Dr. Lin Wang, a key researcher in the experiment, noted that while the liver’s function was limited, it showed potential for short-term use in supporting failing human livers. The magazine Nature published a thorough account of the experiment.
Challenges and Next Steps
Unlike kidneys, the liver performs numerous complex functions, including detoxifying blood, regulating clotting, and storing nutrients. Researchers continue to prioritize addressing these issues.
China is conducting another experiment by transplanting pig livers into living people. While the outcome remains uncertain, one case involved using a pig liver to replace a malignant human liver.
The Xenotransplantation Prospects
As researchers improve their methods, xenotransplantation presents a viable way to address the world’s organ scarcity. The likelihood of adopting pig organs as a dependable substitute for human contributions has increased due to ongoing studies in China and the US.
Source: NBC News