Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiao-Yan Tang, Shanshan Wu, Da Wang, Chu Chu, Yuan Hong, Mengdan Tao, Hao Hu, Min Xu, Xing Guo, Yan Liu
Summary: Organoids are 3D miniature structures cultured in vitro that recapitulate the cellular heterogeneity, structure, and functions of human organs. They have potential applications for studying human physiology and development, as well as for biomedical research and preclinical drug testing.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nina S. Corsini, Juergen A. Knoblich
Summary: For a long time, animal models have been the primary means of gaining insight into the fundamental principles of human biology and disease. However, due to species differences, some developmental and disease mechanisms have been challenging to study. The advent of organoid technology over a decade ago has provided a new model system to investigate human-specific aspects of biology. The use of human 3D organoids, along with advancements in single-cell technologies, has revealed unprecedented insights into human biology and disease mechanisms.
Article
Dermatology
Jiyoon Lee, Karl R. Koehler
Summary: Culturing skin cells outside the body has long been essential to dermatological research, but artificial skin equivalents often lack the full complexity of native skin, especially in generating and maintaining skin appendages such as hair follicles and sweat glands.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Thomas A. Premeaux, Sonia Mediouni, Ana Leda, Robert L. Furler, Susana T. Valente, Howard A. Fine, Douglas F. Nixon, Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
Summary: Long-term use of ART has reduced the disease burden for PWH, but a universal cure for HIV has not been achieved due to the persistence of an HIV reservoir. The CNS is an understudied sanctuary for HIV, and understanding the molecular mechanisms of viral persistence in the brain remains challenging. Recent advances in human brain organoids offer promise for studying neuroHIV, but obstacles such as the incorporation of microglia need to be addressed to fully utilize this model.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angel Garcia de Lucas, Urpo Lamminmaki, Francisco R. Lopez-Picon
Summary: Immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) is a non-invasive in vivo imaging method that tracks and quantifies radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and related molecules for specific brain targeting. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the success of immunoPET in neuroimaging. Strategies such as modifying antibody properties, utilizing physiological mechanisms in the BBB, and inducing BBB permeability changes have been developed to overcome this limitation and deliver antibodies to the brain. ImmunoPET shows promise as a new approach for developing specific PET probes for different brain targets.
Review
Neurosciences
Feng-Chen Bi, Xin-He Yang, Xiao-Yu Cheng, Wen-Bin Deng, Xiao-Li Guo, Hui Yang, Yin Wang, Juan Li, Yao Yao
Summary: This review discusses the advantages, limitations, and possible solutions of Alzheimer's disease cerebral organoid system in comparison to commonly used models, aiming to improve their application in research. Ethical concerns associated with human cerebral organoids are also addressed, along with summarizing future directions for studies to enhance the system in modeling pathological events observed in Alzheimer's disease brains.
TRANSLATIONAL NEURODEGENERATION
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yujin Ahn, Ju-Hyun An, Hae-Jun Yang, Dong Gil Lee, Jieun Kim, Hyebin Koh, Young-Ho Park, Bong-Seok Song, Bo-Woong Sim, Hong J. Lee, Jong-Hee Lee, Sun-Uk Kim
Summary: Recent studies have shown that blood vessel organoids (BVOs) can infiltrate human cerebral organoids and form a blood-brain barrier, creating neural-specific blood-vessel networks that can be maintained for over 50 days.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Perrone, Matthias Zilbauer
Summary: The development of human organoid culture models offers opportunities for generating three-dimensional miniature organs that mimic in vivo conditions, contributing to drug discovery and personalized treatment. However, establishing a living organoid biobank requires greater coordination, resources, and expertise compared to traditional tissue repositories, facing various challenges and complexities.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Tijmen H. Booij, Chiara M. Cattaneo, Christian K. Hirt
Summary: Recent developments in organoid models for cancer research have provided valuable insights into key pathophysiological processes such as tumor development, progression, and treatment response. These models, derived from individual patients, not only serve as improved tumor models compared to traditional monolayer cell cultures, but also have the potential to be used as personalized avatars for translational studies.
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Hyeonyu Kim, Roger D. Kamm, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Joseph C. Wu
Summary: Advances in self-organizing cardiac organoids have provided a powerful tool for studying human cardiac development, cardiovascular diseases, drug testing, and transplantation. This review highlights the recent progress on multicellular cardiac organoids and introduces key readouts and tools for assessing their clinical applications.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Fengjiao Li, Peng Zhang, Saizhi Wu, Lianwen Yuan, Zhonghua Liu
Summary: Organoids are three-dimensional structures developed from adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and pluripotent stem cells through a self-organization process, exhibiting functionalities and features similar to those of in vivo organs. Researchers have established various human tissue-derived epithelial organoids using organoid culture techniques, showing strong research and application prospects in drug discovery, personalized drug response testing, disease mechanism research, and regenerative medicine.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Thomas L. Li, Yuxin Liu, Csaba Forro, Xiao Yang, Levent Beker, Zhenan Bao, Bianxiao Cui, Sergiu P. Pasca
Summary: In this study, a stretchable and soft mesh electrode system was developed to establish an intimate electrical interface with human neurons in 3D organoids. The results showed that the mesh electrode can effectively integrate with human cortical organoids and produce calcium signals comparable to traditional electrodes through electrical stimulation. This platform has the potential to be used for monitoring and modulating the electrical activity of in vitro models of neuropsychiatric diseases.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bradley R. Groveman, Natalia C. Ferreira, Simote T. Foliaki, Ryan O. Walters, Clayton W. Winkler, Brent Race, Andrew G. Hughson, Gianluigi Zanusso, Cathryn L. Haigh
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of using human cerebral organoids as a model for screening therapeutic drug candidates for human prion diseases, showing success in identifying an anti-CJD drug through this model.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Toshikatsu Matsui, Tadahiro Shinozawa
Summary: Organoids, three-dimensional structures fabricated in vitro, mimic complex microenvironments and physiological functions, bridging the gap between animals and humans in research. In toxicology and drug development, human organoids offer new possibilities by overcoming limitations of current models.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Zhanbiao Liu, Zhe Wang, Yue Wei, Jingjing Shi, Tong Shi, Xuejun Chen, Liqin Li
Summary: This study utilized human pluripotent induced stem cells to generate cerebral organoids and investigated the changes in the neural microenvironment after TTX exposure. Differential genes related to voltage-gated channels and synaptic homeostasis were identified.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oliver L. Eichmueller, Nina S. Corsini, Abel Vertesy, Ilaria Morassut, Theresa Scholl, Victoria-Elisabeth Gruber, Angela M. Peer, Julia Chu, Maria Novatchkova, Johannes A. Hainfellner, Mercedes F. Paredes, Martha Feucht, Juergen A. Knoblich
Summary: The evolutionary development of the human brain involves the expansion of different brain regions. This study focuses on the specific developmental processes in humans that lead to malformations of cortical development, resulting in developmental delay and epilepsy in children. By creating a human cerebral organoid model for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), researchers identified a neural stem cell type called caudal late interneuron progenitor (CLIP) cells that overproliferate in TSC, leading to excessive interneurons, brain tumors, and cortical malformations. Inhibiting the epidermal growth factor receptor has potential therapeutic effects for TSC and related disorders. The discovery of CLIP cells highlights the vulnerability to disease in the extended generation of interneurons in the human brain, while also demonstrating the importance of analyzing malformations of cortical development in gaining insights into human-specific aspects of brain development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abel Vertesy, Oliver L. Eichmueller, Julia Naas, Maria Novatchkova, Christopher Esk, Meritxell Balmana, Sabrina Ladstaetter, Christoph Bock, Arndt von Haeseler, Juergen A. Knoblich
Summary: This study reveals that organoids experience cellular stress, but it is limited to specific subpopulations and does not affect neuronal specification or maturation. The researchers have developed an algorithm to identify and remove stressed cells, proving its usefulness in different organoid systems.
Article
Oncology
Laura Hartmann, Wolfram Osen, Oliver L. Eichmueller, Theresa Kordass, Jennifer Furkel, Elke Dickes, Carissa Reid, Jurgen Debus, Stephan Brons, Amir Abdollahi, Mahmoud Moustafa, Stefan Rieken, Stefan B. Eichmueller
Summary: Radiotherapy can activate tumor-specific immune responses in patients and combining carbon ion radiotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibition can reshape the immune cell composition in tumors and induce complete rejection of both irradiated and non-irradiated tumors.