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Scientists have created the most complex model of the human liver
arielf, Geektimes based on WFIRM Materials: Scientists Create Most Sophisticated Human Liver Model Yet
Scientists from The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) has developed the most advanced mini-liver to date. It will help scientists better understand some congenital diseases, as well as accelerate the work on growing liver for transplantation.
"This model best mimics human embryonic development and liver function," said Shay Soker, PhD, professor of regenerative medicine at WFIRM. "We expect these organoids to improve our understanding of how liver diseases – especially congenital diseases – begin and develop, and help us improve treatment methods."
Soker was the lead scientist in the study, which is reported in the journal Hepatology.
The creation of living mini-organs is a new field of engineering that can replace animal models that are not always accurate. Liver organoids made from human cells have a diameter of less than one-third of an inch (7.5 mm). While scientists have already created liver organoids to test new drugs for toxicity, the liver developed in this study represents the first steps in creating a functional model of human liver development.
To grow organoids, scientists sow progenitor cells –immature cells that will turn into specialized liver cells –on a small disc from the ferret liver, which has been treated to remove all the animal cells. The resulting organoids, grown for two to three weeks, for the first time simulates the real development of the human liver.
The study is significant for two reasons. First, scientists have shown that these organoids generate hepatocytes, the main functional liver cells. This achievement is an important milestone in the bioengineering of a truly functional liver for transplantation.
Secondly, while other scientists have shown that a liver grown in laboratory conditions can generate bile ducts, this is the first study showing a gradual maturation of the bile ducts, the same as can be observed during human embryonic development. The bile ducts carry bile, a liquid that is secreted by the liver and collected in the gallbladder to digest fats. The grown mini-liver can be used to study bile duct atrophy, a hereditary disease that occurs in infants. In this disease, the excretion of bile is disrupted, which leads to death in severe cases.
"Our team has created a laboratory model of the development of the human liver and its diseases, which will improve the understanding of the formation of bile ducts," said co–author Pedro Baptista, PhD, who participated in the study.
"This is a big step in the bioengineering of functional liver and bile ducts, and we look forward to using it to improve human health," said co–author Dipen Vyas, PhD, who also participated in the study.
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