Can a man survive with a pork liver? This is what science says

Chinese scientists have been transferred Altered pork liver to a man With brain death, this is the last step The use of the swine organs To help most sick patients with liver failure. In one of the first articles of this type, the surgeon of the Gijing Hospital at Sian’s Fourth Medical University, on March 2024, placed a genetically modified pork liver to a brain death patient, two months later Identical test Made in the United States.

This is the last of the waves of research GeotrasplandsOr converting elements from one species to another. Since 2022, the kidneys and heart hearts have been transferred to patients living, some of them They have survived many weeks. Scientists expect this procedure to meet the need for organs among thousands of people waiting for a donor every year.

Pork does not show signs of rejection

Last year, Chinese transplant surgery was announced for the first time for brain death. But the new study, has been released ‘Nature’ magazineTo illuminate how its proper activity and how the next efforts may develop Pork organs to human patients.

“This is the first time we are trying to unravel If pork liver can work well in the human body“One of the main teachers of the Gijing Hospital, Dr. Lin Wang told journalists. The limited change of the original liver.

Edited six of the pig genes Increase the chances of success Alternative surgery, for example, adding human genes and eliminating pigs to help reject the organ. For 10 days, the pig’s liver maintained a constant blood flow and did not show signs of rejection.

The most exciting thing for researchers is that it was made SpeedIt simplifies digestion, and a protein albumin released in the bloodstream to help regulate fluids. However, bacon liver Did not produce the same amount of bile And a human liver and the teachers of the study say that it is “unlikely” that it is sufficient to keep the human body for a long time. They don’t know How long the liver can have worked Big, because at the request of the patient’s family, they completed the examination in 10 days.

The ability of pigs to human patients

Even so, the results are the first indicator of bacon liver This may be a temporary possible option Expected for people with severe liver failure Transmurotomy. In that case, Wang explains that “the original liver may still work somewhat, and the pig liver may give it a better supplement or additional support.” “This is what we call a Bridge Therapy”.

I will be A significant improvement in patients With the lack of liver that requires transplantation. Worldwide, there were over 41,000 liver transplants in 2023. Or htfacia Many patients wait months for donation, which can be tired.

“Improving this approach may expand the set of available organs Save lives in liver emergency“A statement in a statement in a statement in a statement in a statement in a statement in a statement of Pathology anatomy of the University of Vidito University PlaceIt did not participate in the new study.

However, he confirms that the results of the experiment They should not be generalized until wide studies are carried out With more people. Tests with living patients are still far away. “Although this is a pioneer progress, a large model and life receptors will be required to ensure the safety, performance and reproduction of the procedure,” Vega added.

The study has some other limits, especially The liver of the original patient is not removedIt can identify how well the pig liver has done well. Researchers did not examine whether pork could accept complex functions such as the liver Replace the drugs And make the harmful substances toxic.

Other tests are already underway with pork liver. In the recent months, the Wang Team The liver was extracted from another patient with brain death It was replaced by the changed pork liver. Researchers are planning to release their results soon.