Esophagus from stem cells

A functional esophagus was assembled from stem cells for the first time

Anatoly Glossev, Vesti

Biologists have created a functional esophagus from stem cells for the first time and successfully transplanted it to mice. As noted in the press release of the study, it has become the most complex operable organ ever grown in the laboratory.

The achievement is described in a scientific article published in the journal Nature Communications by a group led by Paolo De Coppi from University College London.

As a "scaffolding", the authors used a fragment of a natural esophagus, but not a mouse, but a rat. It was surgically removed from the rodent's body and cleaned of cells, leaving a framework of extracellular matrix.

Various mouse cells were planted on this basis in several stages. In particular, among them were mesoangioblasts for creating epithelial tissue and fibroblasts capable of generating an extracellular matrix. The researchers also took care of the creation of muscle and nervous tissue.

The difference from previous works of this kind is in the abundance of a variety of cells. Previously, mesenchymal stem cells, undecided with their functions, were used to "seed" the esophageal skeleton. Another difference is that earlier researchers replaced only part of the esophagus of animals with an artificial organ.

"This is the first time such a complex organ has been grown in a laboratory," says co–author Paola Bonfanti, also from University College London.

After the creation of organs for transplantation, they matured for some time in the bioreactor, until the muscles of the upper sphincter formed and "connected" to the nerve fibers.

Then artificial organs were implanted into rodents. Within a week, he took root and acquired a network of blood vessels, as well as a mucous membrane that developed from the precursors of epithelial cells.

"This is an important step forward in the field of regenerative medicine, bringing us closer to a treatment that goes beyond the restoration of damaged tissue and offers the possibility of organ and tissue transplantation without rejection," De Coppi states.

In the future, the new technology will be able to help thousands of people who need an esophageal transplant. There are always not enough donor organs, and especially for children, besides, the vigilant immune system often rejects foreign organs. An esophagus grown from the patient's own cells would be an excellent solution to this problem.

"We are very pleased with these promising preclinical results. However, there is still a lot of research [to be done] before we can safely and effectively transfer this approach to humans," concludes De Coppi.

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