World's First Gene-Edited Pig Liver Transplant Performed in China

Strategic Insights -

Chinese surgeons have successfully performed the world's first transplant of a gene-edited pig liver into a living human patient, marking a significant advance in the quest to address the critical shortage of human donor organs. The groundbreaking procedure was led by a team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, with the gene-edited pig liver developed by researchers from Yunnan Agricultural University. The operation, which took place on May 17, 2024, resulted in the patient surviving for 171 days after the transplant.

Key Takeaways:

  • The gene-edited pig liver was developed by researchers from Yunnan Agricultural University, who used a 10-gene modification process to improve immune acceptance and prevent blood clotting complications.
  • The pig liver was transplanted as an "auxiliary" organ to support the patient's own native liver, a 71-year-old patient with a large, unresectable liver tumor.
  • The patient showed no signs of acute rejection for the first 31 days after the transplant, and the pig liver functioned effectively during this period.
  • However, a challenge emerged on day 38 when the patient developed a serious condition involving blood clots in the small vessels of the transplanted organ, and the clinical team removed the auxiliary liver.
  • Despite this setback, the case proves the remarkable feasibility of a pig liver supporting a human patient for a clinically meaningful duration.
  • This achievement establishes xenotransplantation as a potential "bridge" therapy for those awaiting a human liver transplant.
  • The operation demonstrates proof-of-concept that gene-edited pig livers can function in humans, paving the way for further research and development.

Statistics:

  • 171 days: The length of time the patient survived after the gene-edited pig liver transplant.
  • 10: The number of genes modified in thepig liver to improve immune acceptance and prevent blood clotting complications.
  • 3: The number of genes responsible for rapid antibody-mediated rejection in pigs that were knocked out in the gene-edited pig liver.
  • 7: The number of human genes inserted into the gene-edited pig liver to improve immune acceptance and prevent blood clotting complications.
  • 71: The age of the patient who received the gene-edited pig liver transplant.
  • 38: The day when the patient developed a serious condition involving blood clots in the small vessels of the transplanted organ.

Sources:

  • "World's first gene-edited pig liver transplant performed in China" (Journal of Hepatology, 2025)
  • Review article in Journal of Hepatology, 2025 (exact reference not provided in the original text)