Medical study: Transplanted pig lung functions in human body
In a medical breakthrough that could help ease the global organ shortage crisis, Chinese scientists have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human patient, with the organ remaining functional for nine days.
The procedure, carried out by researchers at the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease in Guangzhou, marks a major advance in xenotransplantation—the transplantation of organs across species.
The transplanted lung “maintained viability and functionality” for 216 hours without signs of infection or rejection, the team reported.
The pig lung was sourced from a 22-month-old, 70-kilogram male Chinese Bama Xiang pig and transplanted into a 39-year-old male human recipient.
Continuous monitoring showed that the organ remained stable and functional for more than a week, an achievement the researchers described as evidence of progress in both genetic modification techniques and immunosuppressive therapies.
“This study demonstrates that genetically modified pig lungs can maintain viability and functionality in brain-dead recipients for 216 hours without hyperacute rejection or uncontrolled infection,” the team said in a statement.
While pig-to-human transplants of kidneys and hearts have already shown promise in recent years, the lung presents unique hurdles due to its anatomical complexity and direct exposure to external air, which increases infection risk. The Guangzhou team emphasized that significant challenges remain before clinical trials in living patients can be considered.
Still, experts say the success of this trial underscores the growing potential of xenotransplantation to provide a sustainable source of organs.
With thousands of patients worldwide dying each year while waiting for transplants, the development could mark an important step toward bridging the gap between demand and supply.
