Organ transplants involve replacing a failing organ with a healthy one from a donor. However there is always a shortage of human organ donors, and so scientists have been exploring xenotransplantation—using organs from animals, particularly pigs, for human transplantation.Recently, Chinese researchers have reported significant progress in the field of xenotransplantation. A patient in China had successfully got her gene-edited pig kidney. This has made her the third person worldwide to live with such a transplant. Dr Lin Wang, a researcher at Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military MEdical University in Xi'an, stated that nearly three weeks after surgery, the patient is now in good health. The pig kidney too is functioning well. As per the Chinese media, the recepienet was a 69-year-ols woman who had been living with kidney failure for the last 8 years.What Are The Challenges Of Such Transplants?The idea of using pig organs for human transplants is not new, however, it is in the recent times when attempts have been made in the US and in China. There were two initial attempts in the US that involved transplanting pig hearts and kidneys, however, the patients did not survive long. Though, two additional pig kidney transplants performed in the US- one in Alabama in November and another in New Hampshire in January- have been successful so far.Despite these advancements, xenotransplantation still faces hurdles. The main challenge that remains for scientists is to overcome the risk organ rejection, immune system responses, and ensuring long-term functionality. Nonetheless, a US clinical trial on pig organ transplants is also set to begin soon, which will mark another step toward making these procedures more viable.Is There A Potential For Pig Liver Transplants?Researchers have now started looking beyond hearts and kidneys. There could be a possibility of transplanting pig livers. In the journal Nature, Dr Wang's team reported that they implanted a pig liver into a brain-dead patient, where it had survived for 10 days without early signs of rejection. The liver was also able to produce bile and albumin, which are essential functions of the organ. However, these productions were made at lower levels than a human liver.ALSO READ: “You’ve Got A Pig’s Heart!” Genetically Modified Pigs with Human-like Organs Transforming Organ Donation; Details InsideThe liver transplant is particularly more challenging because it has vital roles like filtering toxins, breaking down nutrients, fighting infections, storing iron, and regulating blood clotting. While the recent experiment did show limited functionality, Wang believes that there could be more to it. It could serve as a temporary support for patients with liver failure, which could be similar to dialysis for kidney patients.Has There Been Attempt To Transplant Pig Liver Before?Yes, this is not the first time scientists have experimented with pig liver transplants. Last year, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. attempted an external attachment of a pig liver to a brain-dead patient to filter blood. A Chinese hospital also reportedly performed a pig liver transplant on a living patient who had part of his cancerous liver removed, though details of the outcome remain unclear.In another experiment, Wang’s team implanted a pig liver alongside a human liver in a brain-dead patient, rather than removing the human liver entirely. Experts believe this approach complicates the results, as it does not fully replicate a liver transplant scenario.