Chinese doctors have, for the first time in the world, transplanted a liver from a genetically modified pig into a human. The operation was made possible by a unique DNA edit: genes that trigger immune rejection were removed from the animal, and human genes that improve compatibility were added.
The experiment was carried out on a 71-year-old patient with severe liver disease and cancer, for whom conventional transplantation was not an option.
The pig liver temporarily supported vital functions: it produced proteins and bile without causing a serious immune response. On day 38, a complication arose and the organ had to be removed. However, scientists believe that in the future xenotransplantation may save thousands of lives, and modified organs from animals may become a routine practice.
