Cynthia Ezegwu
In a historic medical milestone, a team of Chinese surgeons has successfully transplanted a genetically engineered pig liver into a human, marking the world’s first recorded case of such a procedure.
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday, the operation was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in Anhui Province, China. The recipient, a 71-year-old man whose liver was irreparably damaged by hepatitis B and cancer, survived for nearly six months after the groundbreaking surgery.
The procedure, detailed in the Journal of Hepatology, involved implanting an auxiliary graft from a genetically modified Diannan miniature pig. The animal’s genes had been altered to minimize rejection and improve compatibility with the human immune system. For several weeks, the transplanted liver performed key metabolic and synthetic functions, supporting the patient’s health.
However, after 38 days, the team encountered complications linked to a condition known as xenotransplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (xTMA), prompting doctors to remove the graft. Despite successful treatment of the complication, the patient passed away 171 days post-surgery.
Lead researcher, Dr. Beicheng Sun, described the case as a major leap forward in organ transplantation science.
“This study proves that a genetically engineered pig liver can sustain human life for a significant period,” Dr. Sun said. “It represents a vital step in addressing challenges related to immune rejection and blood coagulation.”
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In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer, co-editor of the Journal of Hepatology, hailed the development as a “landmark in liver medicine,” suggesting it could open new pathways for treating acute and chronic liver failure.
“Xenotransplantation may redefine transplant hepatology,” he noted. “A new chapter in medical science has begun.”
Xenotransplantation — the practice of using animal organs or tissues in human patients — has long been studied as a possible remedy for the global organ shortage. Pigs remain the most suitable donors due to their biological similarities to humans and the advancement of gene-editing technologies that can reduce immune complications.
The latest success follows other pioneering animal-to-human transplants, including the 2022 pig heart transplant in the United States and the 2024 pig kidney transplant into 62-year-old Richard Slayman, both of which extended patient survival for several weeks.
Experts say this recent breakthrough strengthens optimism about the potential of genetically engineered organs to save lives, though significant scientific and ethical hurdles must still be addressed before routine clinical use becomes possible.