Key points from article :
In a world-first, scientists have successfully transplanted part of a genetically modified pig’s liver into a living person, marking a major step forward for xenotransplantation — the use of animal organs to treat human disease. The operation, led by Beicheng Sun at Anhui Medical University in China, was performed on a 71-year-old man whose liver was severely damaged by hepatitis B and cancer. Traditional transplantation was not an option, but this experimental procedure offered a last resort.
The surgical team replaced the diseased right section of the patient’s liver with that of an 11-month-old miniature pig, whose genes had been altered to make the organ more compatible with the human body. Within weeks, the pig liver began functioning as expected — producing bile and key proteins such as albumin. However, about a month later, dangerous blood clots developed, forcing doctors to remove the transplanted organ. Despite this, the man’s condition remained stable for several months, and his own liver even showed signs of regeneration before he eventually died from unrelated complications.
Experts, including Heiner Wedemeyer of Hannover Medical School in Germany, have hailed the work as groundbreaking. It suggests that pig livers might one day serve as “bridging” organs — temporarily supporting patients until human transplants become available or until their own organs recover. The procedure also provides invaluable data on immune reactions and compatibility challenges unique to pig-human transplants.
While the achievement is a scientific milestone, both Sun and Wedemeyer caution that fully replacing a human liver with a pig organ is still a decade away. Future advances will depend on refining genetic modifications and improving ways to prevent immune rejection and clotting. Even so, this pioneering surgery brings the dream of solving the global organ shortage a crucial step closer.
