Core Viewpoint - The recent research from Stanford University introduces a method to cultivate vascularized cardiac and hepatic organoids from human pluripotent stem cells, overcoming significant limitations in organoid development and enhancing their utility as biological models for studying organ development and drug exposure effects [2][3]. Group 1: Research Background - The field of organoid research began in 2009 with the creation of the first intestinal organoid from adult stem cells, leading to advancements in various organoid types for studying diseases and drug development [1]. - A persistent challenge in organoid research is their small size and lack of a vascular system, which limits their growth and viability beyond a certain diameter [1]. Group 2: Research Methodology - The research team developed a method to cultivate vascularized cardiac organoids capable of growing larger and reaching more mature stages, making them more practical for biological modeling [3][5]. - They optimized a culture formula combining 34 different conditions to generate cardiac organoids containing key cell types, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells [6][7]. Group 3: Key Findings - The optimal culture condition (Condition 32) produced vibrant cardiac organoids with a significant presence of the three key cell types [7][9]. - The vascularized cardiac organoids exhibited a structure resembling capillaries, with diameters of 10-100 micrometers, similar to human hair width [10]. - Analysis revealed that these organoids encompass 15-17 different cell types, comparable to those found in a six-week-old human embryonic heart [11]. Group 4: Implications and Future Directions - The research indicates that these vascularized organoids can serve as models for studying early human development and drug effects, with initial tests showing increased vascularization in response to opioid exposure [12]. - The study confirmed that vascular formation in different organ systems follows a conserved developmental program, suggesting the potential to cultivate other vascularized organoids, such as hepatic organoids with complex vascular networks [13][14]. - Future plans include extending the development time of these organoids and optimizing the culture conditions to generate additional cell types, aiming to better mimic adult organ composition [16].
Science重磅:华人团队破解类器官关键难题,培养出具有逼真血管网络的心脏和肝脏类器官
生物世界·2025-06-06 07:58