In a medical breakthrough that could reshape transplant medicine, Chinese surgeons have achieved the world's first successful transplantation of a gene-edited pig liver into a human patient, with the recipient surviving nearly six months post-operation. Published in the Journal of Hepatology, this milestone addresses the critical global shortage of donor organs through innovative xenotransplantation.
The procedure, led by the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, utilized a pig liver modified through 10 genetic changes. Researchers from Yunnan Agricultural University engineered the organ by removing three rejection-causing pig genes and adding seven human genes to enhance compatibility and reduce clotting risks.
Conducted on May 17, 2024, the surgery involved attaching the modified liver as an auxiliary organ to support a 71-year-old patient's failing native liver due to an inoperable tumor. Initial results showed promise: the transplanted liver functioned effectively for 31 days without acute rejection. However, complications arose on day 38 when blood clots formed in the organ's small vessels, necessitating its removal. The patient ultimately passed away from unrelated gastrointestinal complications on day 171.
While not a permanent solution, the case demonstrates xenotransplantation's potential as a bridge therapy for patients awaiting human donors. "This establishes proof-of-concept that such grafts can function in humans," stated a journal review, though researchers caution widespread clinical use remains distant.
The achievement follows China's earlier xenotransplant milestone in April 2024, when Xijing Hospital temporarily sustained a brain-dead patient with a modified pig liver. Together, these advances position China at the forefront of solving the global organ shortage crisis through bioengineering innovation.
