American scientists have begun clinical trials of an innovative method of treating patients in need of a liver transplant.
As reported by the company LyGenesis, we are talking about growing an “alternative” liver, reports Ukrinform.
The new method consists is that the “mini liver” grows in a lymph node in the upper abdomen of such a patient.
The procedure involves taking hepatocytes from a donor and injecting them into the patient's lymph nodes, where the donor cells should grow and multiply, integrating into circulatory system and forming " .
The biotechnology company LyGenesis announced that the first patient has already undergone the procedure of transplanting healthy cells from a donor liver.
Scientists have already successfully tested the technique on animals — all of the pigs tested were able to grow miniature functional livers.
The current trial will involve 12 people with end-stage liver failure for whom transplantation may be the only option.
Researchers hope that this will will be a step forward in the field of medicine and organ transplantation. If successful, the new treatment method will help avoid the problem of waiting for a donor liver and save thousands of lives.
As Ukrinform reported, in January 2022, American doctors performed the first heart transplant operation on a genetically modified pig.
Photo: LyGenesis