Patients are one step closer to receiving lab-grown organs thanks to the help of PIGLETS
- Lab-grown tissue, called organoids, has potential to replace diseased tissue
- However, they have not yet been implanted into humans, scientists warned
- They created a gel from piglets’ intestines which supports organoid growth
- The gel helped the growth of organoids made from human stem cells
Humans may be one step closer to receiving lab-grown pancreases and livers – thanks to the help of piglets.
Scientists have created a gel from the intestines of the animals and found it supports the growth of organoids.
Organoids are structures made from human stem cells that can mimic the shape and function of tissue such as muscle, as well as organs.
Patients are a step closer to receiving lab-grown organs – thanks to the help of piglets
Researchers have already produced ‘mini placentas’, ‘lab-grown brains’, ‘tiny human stomachs’ and ‘pea-sized human lungs’ with stem cells.
But the gels currently used to culture human organoids have been unsuitable for use in patients, the experts said.
Tests of the new piglet-derived gel, published in Nature Communications, suggests it works well and could be used in clinical settings.
Organoids have huge potential for replacing diseased tissues and generating new and healthy cells. But so far, they have only been implanted into animals.
Research is still in the early stages of development with many barriers to overcome before organoids can be used in human medicine.
Researchers led by Professor Paolo De Coppi, at the National Institute for Health Research, were behind the ‘extracellular-matrix (ECM) hydrogel’.
They found the ECM gel supported cell growth in small intestine, liver, stomach and pancreatic organoids.
The hydrogel provides the same level of support to stem cells in the organoid culture as synthetic gels, scientists say. But is suitable for use in humans.
The authors wrote: ‘We envisage that ECM-derived hydrogels could be used in the future for organoid transplantation.’
Professor De Coppi said: ‘There is a huge potential for organoids to open up regenerative medicine and advance how we treat complex conditions.
‘Our findings mark a major step towards seeing tissue grown from stem cells being used in clinical settings to treat patients.
‘This could open up the possibility of providing organoid transplants for patients affected by devastating diseases such as short bowel syndrome to improve intestinal function.’
The study involved experts at University College London, Great Ormond Street and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.