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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Quantification of Circulating Pig-Specific DNA in the Blood of a Xenotransplantation Model
Published on: September 22, 2020
Simultaneous quantification of native human and transgenic porcine liver function in a decedent model of
Abraham Shaked1, Michael P McRae2, Joanne C Imperial3
1Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract:
Porcine livers have the potential to support liver function via extracorporeal liver cross-circulation (ELC) until recovery or transplantation. To assess the functional integrity of both native human and porcine livers during ELC, we used the clearance of intravenously administered 13C-cholate to probe effective hepatic perfusion in 4 decedents maintained on ELC for 72 to 102 hours. Genetically modified porcine livers (EGEN-5784) were perfused using the OrganOx metra-ELC device. Hepatic filtration rate was calculated for the native human liver and the EGEN-5784 liver in ELC. During ELC, total hepatic filtration rate increased substantially compared with pre-ELC values, exceeded the upper limit of the normal range, and remained stable throughout the ELC period. Simultaneous measurement of cholate clearance in human and porcine livers during ELC provides real-time assessment of each organ's functional contribution and may inform decisions regarding optimal ELC duration, timing of disconnection, and necessity of liver transplantation.
