Research on organoids is revolutionizing the way we study human organs. These tiny miniature models, just a few millimeters in size, allow us to observe closely how tissues develop and what happens when they get sick. A team of German researchers has taken a further step forward, creating the first organoid to combine heart development with blood production.
The development of a miniature heart
An exceptional milestone has been achieved in the research laboratories Leibniz for biotechnology and artificial organs of the Hannover Medical SchoolThe team led by Dr. Robert Zweigerdt has developed a cardiac organoid capable of generating blood, opening new frontiers in the understanding of human embryonic development.
The organoid was created starting from human pluripotent stem cells, cellular elements with unique properties that can be grown indefinitely and differentiate into any cell type. Using biological and chemical signals embedded in a hydrogel matrix, researchers were able to guide these cells toward the formation of three-dimensional aggregates.
The process takes between 10 and 14 days, during which complex structures composed of at least seven different types of clearly organized cells and tissues develop. I am particularly struck by how this mini organ faithfully replicates the layered structure of the embryonic heart.
Cardiac organoid, an innovative model for research
The doctor Miriana Dardano, first author of the study published in Nature Cell Biology (I link it here), explained how the team was able to add to the cardiac organoid a dense endothelial layer, which lines the blood vessels and from which blood progenitor cells emerge.
This result represents the first human model of its kind that combines all tissues following embryonic development. The doctor Lika Drachlis, co-leader of the research, emphasizes how this study allows other researchers to investigate in cell culture the interaction between different tissues during hematopoiesis.
Organoids are proving to be valuable tools not only for basic research, but also for studying diseases such as COVID-19, which affects both the heart and blood vessels. In some cases, these models may prove more effective than animal studies, since the results are more easily transferable to humans.
Future prospects
The organoid production principle developed by the team proved to be as flexible as a construction set. The researchers at LEBAO they are already working on a new differentiation protocol to convert pluripotent stem cells into cells for other organs.
“In some cases, this works even better than animal models, for example, because these are subject to other biological influences and the results can only be transferred to humans to a limited extent,” explains one of the scientists.
This technology paves the way for the development of a new multi-tissue organoid model for future medical research. The team is already exploring applications beyond the heart and blood, with the goal of creating an increasingly comprehensive platform for studying disease and developing new therapies.
The ability of these organoids to simulate heart development and blood production simultaneously represents a turning point in biomedical research. I am excited to think about the potential applications of this technology, from understanding heart disease to testing new drugs to developing personalized therapies.
Keep it up, dear researchers: thank you. From the bottom of my heart, of course.
