Health News

Medical breakthrough! In a first, human receives liver transplant from pig

New Delhi: Chinese scientists have performed a first-ever surgery by transplanting a pig’s liver into a human. Previously, surgeons have successfully transplanted the kidneys and heart, but since the liver is a more complex organ, it has been a failure. Doctors performed this surgery at the Fourth Military Medical University in China which first edited the genes of a mini pig, and then transplanted the liver into the body of a brain-dead patient. The immune system initially rejected the organ, but it seemed to function normally for 10 days until the study was concluded at the patient’s family’s request.

Who needs liver transplants?

Liver is one of the meatiest organs in the human body, the largest too. It is responsible for fat storage and metabolism. And one of the most common problems associated with it is fatty liver – alcoholic or non-alcoholic. And when it is left untreated for too long, it can lead to cirrhosis, which is irreversible liver damage. This state can only be fixed with liver transplants. A transplant is said to be the best treatment for liver failure, but most patients do not prefer to take this route and wait for months and years at first.

But when it comes to organ transplants, it is not just resistance from patients, but also a shortage of organs that makes it all a challenge. This gap, as per experts, can be filled by pig organs. This is because they are similar in size and genetics to humans. However, before the transplant, DNA editing is a must to prevent the immune system from rejecting the organ. The pig’s liver is relatively smaller in size and therefore can be transplanted in the body without having to remove the diseased organ. This helps it function temporarily as well.

Researchers noted that the surgery was a success and the modified liver worked very well in the body. Experts published the findings in the Nature journal. However, experts at Oxford University noted that the organ may not function properly for long enough, and since the patient was brain dead, the extent of the xenograft’s success cannot be determined for sure.