China Marks First Combined Pig Liver, Kidney Transplant in Human Trial
The experimental operation took place at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in southern China and was performed on a brain-dead patient as part of a controlled scientific study.
The procedure was led by Professor Dou Kefeng, an academic affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It involved transplanting organs from a genetically modified pig that had undergone multiple gene edits designed to reduce immune rejection and improve compatibility with the human body, according to reports.
Researchers observed that the transplanted organs remained functional for nearly five days without triggering hyperacute rejection, one of the most immediate and serious barriers in cross-species transplantation.
During the observation period, the pig liver was reported to have produced bile, while the kidneys generated urine and maintained stable blood circulation, indicating that the organs were able to operate in a coordinated manner within the human body.
The study was designed to evaluate whether multiple genetically modified pig organs could function together in a human system, an important step in addressing the global shortage of donor organs, according to reports.
The experiment builds on earlier advances in xenotransplantation, including prior cases involving pig kidney and liver transplants that demonstrated partial success in similar research settings.
Scientists involved in the project said the results provide encouraging evidence that multi-organ xenotransplantation may be technically feasible, although they stressed that significant challenges remain, particularly in achieving long-term survival and overcoming immune compatibility issues.
While this procedure was conducted strictly as a research trial rather than a therapeutic intervention, experts view it as an important step toward the future possibility of using animal organs to help meet human transplant demand.
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