Pig Livers Transformed to be Human-Like, Possible Solution for Organ Transplant Shortage

A company and its team of scientists are modifying pig livers to resemble human livers, which might provide a remedy for the US organ transplant shortage.

"Regrowing" Organs

As part of their ongoing effort to bioengineer replacement organs, scientists are gradually changing pig livers to resemble human organs in both appearance and function.

Jeff Ross, CEO of Miromatrix said that they essentially regrow the organ so that the human body won't recognize it as a pig organ.

Miromatrix intends to conduct the first-ever human testing of a bioengineered organ by 2023 to establish this.

The initial experiment will take place outside of a patient's body if the Food and Drug Administration approves.

To momentarily filter the blood of a person whose own liver suddenly failed, researchers would place a pig that had been transformed into a human-like liver next to a hospital bed.

The success of that novel "liver assist" would also pave the way for a bioengineered organ transplant, most likely a kidney, if it were to be attempted in the future.

The direct implantation of animal organs into humans, or xenotransplantation, is probably more in the distant future, according to Dr. Sander Florman, transplant chief at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

The aforementioned hospital is one of many that have already expressed interest in taking part in the liver-assist study, AP News reported.

Organ Transplant Waiting List

The demand for organs will never be able to be met, according to Dr. Amit Tevar, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center transplant surgeon.

For this reason, researchers are looking at animals as different sources of organs.

A Maryland man survived two months after receiving the first heart transplant ever from a pig in January; the pig was genetically altered so that none of its organs immediately triggered a human immune system attack.

The FDA is debating whether to approve more xenotransplantations using the kidneys or hearts of gene-edited pigs.

Using leftover organs from slaughterhouses instead of special pigs makes bioengineering organs significantly different.

Pittsburgh's Tevar said that In the long run, that is something that very likely will contribute to the creation of human-useable organs.

Since he is not affiliated with Miromatrix and pointed out that the upcoming outside-the-body testing is only the first step, The Porterville Recorder reported.

FDA and Pig Liver Transformation Process

Some of the risks associated with xenotransplantation, such as skulking animal viruses or hyper-rejection, are eliminated when the pig cells are removed, according to Ross.

The decellularized pig tissue is already deemed safe by the FDA for use in the creation of a specific type of surgical mesh; however, getting human cells to take control is more difficult, The Daily Star noted.

Ross clarified that they are unable to simultaneously insert billions of cells into the organ.

The cells slowly infuse, moving around until they find the ideal environment, at which point they adhere.

These human cells came from donated kidneys and livers that wouldn't be used for transplant.

Because hospitals frequently decline to transplant less-than-perfect organs or because it took too long to find a suitable recipient, nearly one-fourth of kidneys donated last year were discarded.

Miromatrix biologists separate usable cells and grow them in lab dishes as long as sufficient numbers of cells are still functioning when donation organizations offer an organ.

The company claims it can grow enough cells from one saved human organ to repopulate several pig livers as well as kidney scaffolds with cells that are responsible for various tasks, such as those that filter waste or line blood vessels, for example.

Future Testing Possibilities

It is unknown when the testing will start, but the FDA recently informed Miromatrix that it has some concerns regarding the study application.

More research is being done in anticipation of one day hoping to transplant a bioengineered organ, most likely a kidney because a patient could survive on dialysis even if the operation was unsuccessful.

Although kidney regeneration isn't quite there yet, Dr. Ron Shapiro, a Mount Sinai kidney transplant specialist, said he was astounded by the development so far.

He cares for a lot of elderly dialysis patients who, if a kidney donation were to occur in time for the experiments, would be ideal candidates and would most likely pass away waiting on the list, AP News noted.