In a world first, scientists succeeded in producing organoids from the cells left by fetuses in the womb. These “mini organs”, consisting of lung, kidney and small intestine cells obtained from amniotic fluid, may allow for more effective diagnosis and treatment of various congenital diseases.
organoids, They are 3D cell bundles that mimic the structure, function and biological complexity of organs, but on a much smaller and simpler scale. They are usually created with cells obtained from biopsy samples that are reprogrammed into stem cells.
To date, organoids of many tissue types, including the brain, heart, and even testicles, have been grown and often used to model diseases and test drugs.
A New Step with Cells from Pregnancy
Researcher Mattia Gerli noted that previous studies were generally limited to samples obtained from termination of pregnancy, so this is the first time organoids have been grown directly with cells from ongoing pregnancies. The team behind this invention used it as a living cell source amniotic fluidUsing it, he was able to overcome some of the difficulties that had hindered previous efforts and was able to examine fetal tissue in later stages of development.
The technique they developed involved lung, kidney and intestinal cells taken from amniotic fluid collected from 12 pregnancies between the 16th and 34th weeks of pregnancy. These cells were then grown in a dish in the laboratory and directed to form tissue bundles. Each organoidexpressed the genes and proteins of the organ from which it originated.
Not at the Cure Stage, But the Beginning of a New Journey
Although the researchers have not yet tried to treat any children with the technique, they say their findings could be used in the future to study and treat a variety of serious birth defects that affect 3 to 6% of babies worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
They even suggest that organoids created months in advance could be used in personalized medical interventions to help diagnose and treat congenital diseases before birth.
To explore potential future uses, the team also produced lung organoids from fetuses with disorders such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), in which the diaphragm does not close properly.
The condition can be treated in fetuses in the womb, and the team found that organoids from babies with CDH developed in very different ways before and after treatment, indicating a successful treatment.
Prenatal Status Evaluation for the First Time
Paolo De Coppi, one of the researchers, said in a statement to The Guardian: “This is the first time we have been able to make a prenatal functional assessment of a child’s congenital condition. “Therefore, this approach can be used to monitor the effectiveness of such treatments.” he said.
Although these and other potential applications seem distant at the moment, the team hopes that with further research they will be able to realize the potential of these innovative organoids in the fields of regenerative medicine and personalized disease modeling.
