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Scientists Perform the World’s First Pig Liver Transplant in a Living Human
In a world-first pig liver transplant, doctors in China have successfully implanted a gene-edited pig liver into a living human a medical milestone that could transform the future of xenotransplantation and help address the global organ shortage crisis.
The surgery took place on May 17, 2024, at Anhui Medical University’s First Affiliated Hospital. It marks a remarkable advancement in animal-to-human organ transplantation, proving that a genetically engineered pig liver can function safely inside a human body.
A Risky but Hopeful Pig Liver Transplant Experiment
The patient, a 71-year-old man with an incurable tumor in the right lobe of his liver, faced liver failure with no compatible human donor available. Instead of replacing his liver entirely, surgeons implanted a gene-edited pig liver as an auxiliary organ, essentially a biological “assistant” to support
the patient’s weakened liver while allowing it to heal.The Pig Liver Transplant That Functioned for Over a Month
To the doctors’ amazement, the transplanted pig liver began functioning immediately, producing bile and blood-clotting proteins just like a normal human liver.
For 31 days, it worked seamlessly inside the human body, with no signs of acute rejection, one of the biggest hurdles in xenotransplantation research.
After 38 days, minor clotting was detected in the organ’s tiny blood vessels, prompting surgeons to remove it to protect the patient.
The patient ultimately lived 171 days after the operation, a promising sign for future pig organ transplant trials.
A Genetically Engineered Pig for Successful Liver Transplantation
The donor pig used for this transplant was far from ordinary. Scientists at Yunnan Agricultural University edited ten genes in its DNA:
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Removed three pig genes that typically trigger immune rejection.
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Added seven human genes to help the organ communicate biologically with human tissue.
These modifications allowed the gene-edited pig liver to “speak the same biological language” as its human host, a crucial breakthrough for the success of animal-to-human liver transplants.
Why This Pig Liver Transplant Matters
“This case proves that a genetically engineered pig liver can function in a human for an extended period,” said Professor Beicheng Sun, lead surgeon and president of Anhui Medical University.
“It’s a major step forward in tackling the global organ shortage.”
Across the world, thousands of patients die each year waiting for organ donors. The success of this pig liver transplant offers a glimpse of a future where genetically modified animal organs can temporarily or permanently replace failing human organs potentially saving countless lives.
The Road Ahead for Pig Liver Xenotransplantation
Despite this success, challenges remain:
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Preventing blood-clotting complications
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Managing long-term immune response
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Ensuring lasting organ survival
Still, this operation is the first real proof that a gene-edited pig liver can sustain human life a feat once considered impossible.
It moves xenotransplantation from the realm of science fiction into real-world medicine.
A Giant Leap Toward a Future Without Organ Shortages
While more trials are needed, the world’s first pig liver transplant represents hope a future where no one has to die waiting for an organ.
A small step for medicine, but a giant leap for humanity in the fight against organ failure.
