The first pork liver transplant to a human signs teacher in organ sciences

We have reached new boundaries in organ transplantation. In medical first, scientists announced this week that they have kept the genetically modified pork liver inside a human body – at least for a short period.

The researchers in China detailed their pioneering achievement in a Ticket It was published today in nature. They implanted the liver to a painted recipient to the brain, where she managed to survive and even perform some basic functions for more than a week. The results are the latest indicating that the transplant from animals to humans, or the transplantation of the cell, can one day become an applicable option for many people who need donor organs.

There are more than 100,000 Americans Currently in the waiting list For the device, with the addition of a new person every eight minutes. However, 48,000 transplants are performed annually, creating a significant decrease. It is estimated that 17 people die every day waiting for the implant menu.

Scientists explore different ways to expand a group of available organs or to prolong people while waiting for one, such as synthetic devices or the mixture. But only recently, the latter appeared as a possible fact, thanks to the progress of genetic liberalization technology.

These developments have made scientists create pigs with more compatible organs with human biology, which reduces the chances of rejection. One of the common liberations, for example, removes the pork’s ability to produce alpha -Gal, a sugar that the human body does not make.

As with others Early tests to plant woodThe researchers conducted the procedure on a Yemeni receiving in the brain and his family agreed to help. They implanted a liver of a miniature Pama-a breast used in research-which had six genetic adjustments, while the recipient was given immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection. They monitored both the recipient and members for 10 days, and ended the study at the request of the family.

Things seem smoothly during the experiment. The researchers, including a team from Chikin Hospital at the Fourth Military Medical University, did not find any signs of immediate rejection, while the liver remained working within the entire 10 days. Within two hours of implant, it began to produce bile and maintain acceptable blood flow.

Last year, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania I mentioned To successfully connect the donor pork liver with a loyal receiving from the brain through a machine outside the body, while keeping the organ alive for three days. But the researchers notice that their study is the first study of peers to document the intention of planting goodwill for the pork -based pork to a person.

“It is a great achievement,” study researcher Lin Wang told a press conference on Tuesday.

However, we are still far from seeing a liver derived from pigs and other organs that become common. In recent years, scientists have begun to transplant kidney and pigs as another treatment for the recipient of the recipient with good diseases. But only two of the beneficiaries are still alive, although the 53 -year -old Tuvana is currently the longest recipient in four months (received a Pig kidney transplant In late November 2024). The largest clinical trials are expected to start very soon, but even if external scientists succeed that it may take a long time before the organs derived from animals can approach the ability of human donor.

However, Xenotransation can become an important option even before this noble goal. Scientists note that the recipient liver remained intact all the time. So it is possible that the genetic modified pigs are used as a kind of treatment to bridge the people in the transplantation menu or for the people whose members need a time to recover before they become functional again.