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Scientists have successfully cultivated miniature organ structures from human stem cells extracted during pregnancy, possibly advancing the field of prenatal medicine.
The research indicates that human growth can now be monitored during the final stages of pregnancy, providing the potential for early detection and treatment of birth defects.
The study, which was published in Nature Medicine, explains that organoids, which are sophisticated cellular structures, have been cultivated. These “mini-organs” preserve the infant’s genetic data.
Organoids allow researchers to observe the functioning of organs in both a healthy state and when they are affected by illness.
The scientists claim that the small organs will aid in tracking the growth of a fetus during the latter stages of pregnancy, simulating the advancement of diseases, and experimenting with potential cures for conditions like congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) – a flaw in an infant’s diaphragm.
The organoids provide a new opportunity to observe the processes of development in both normal and unhealthy conditions, which was not previously feasible.
Dr Mattia Gerli, first author of the study at UCL Surgery and Interventional Science, said: “The organoids we created from amniotic fluid cells exhibit many of the functions of the tissues they represent, including gene and protein expression.
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Before, it was not possible to study the process of development in both healthy and diseased states. However, now we have the opportunity to do so.
“We have limited knowledge about late stage human pregnancy, making it incredibly thrilling to explore new territories in the field of prenatal medicine.”
So far, organoids have only been created using stem cells from adults or tissue from terminated fetuses.
There are also laws that limit the times when fetal samples can be obtained.
In the United Kingdom, this is permitted within 22 weeks after conception, which is the legal cutoff for terminating a pregnancy. However, in nations such as the United States, sampling of the fetus is prohibited by law.
The guidelines restrict the study of typical human growth beyond 22 weeks, and also for genetic disorders at a stage where treatment may still be possible.
To address these challenges, scientists from UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) acquired embryonic cells that had migrated into the amniotic fluid, which envelops the fetus in the uterus and provides protection during gestation.
The child’s cells contain identical biological information since no physical contact is made during the collection process, allowing for sampling restrictions to be bypassed.
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A major advancement for prenatal healthcare!
Paolo de Coppi is an esteemed pediatric surgeon and researcher with expertise in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
The scientists collected living cells from 12 ongoing pregnancies during routine diagnostic procedures, ranging from 16 to 34 weeks in gestation.
They proceeded to determine the origin of the stem cells’ tissues.
Scientists were able to successfully obtain stem cells from various organs, such as the lungs, kidneys, and intestine. These stem cells were then utilized to cultivate organoids, which exhibited key attributes of their respective tissue types.
The researchers collaborated with a team from KU Leuven in Belgium to examine the growth and development of infants diagnosed with CDH, a condition in which a hole in the diaphragm causes the displacement of organs such as the intestine and liver into the chest. This displacement puts pressure on the lungs and can impede proper growth.
Tissues from infants diagnosed with CDH, before and after treatment, were contrasted with organoids from unaffected infants in order to examine the unique biological traits of each population.
The research revealed notable discrepancies in development between normal and pre-treatment CDH organoids.
Nevertheless, the organoids of the post-treatment group exhibited a much smaller discrepancy from the healthy organoids, thus estimating the treatment’s efficacy on a cellular scale.
Professor Paolo de Coppi, from UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital and the senior author of the study, stated that this is the inaugural instance in which they were able to evaluate the functionality of a child’s congenital condition before they are born. This development is a significant advancement in the field of prenatal medicine.
Typically, diagnosis is determined through imaging methods such as ultrasound or MRI, as well as genetic testing.
When we encounter families who have received a prenatal diagnosis, we are often limited in our ability to provide specific information about the prognosis as each situation is unique.
We are not currently making the claim that we can do this, but the capability to research prenatal organoids is the initial step towards being able to provide a more thorough prognosis and, hopefully, more successful treatments in the future.
The scientists assert that although they have not yet examined the technique in connection with other ailments, it is conceivable that they could investigate other conditions that impact the lungs, such as cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, and intestinal disorders.
This research was backed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Wellcome and was published in Nature Medicine.
Source: independent.co.uk
