Revolutionary Science: Organoids Grown from Fetal Cells Could Change Prenatal Diagnoses

Tuesday - March 5 2024, 01:10 UTC - 8 months ago

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the field of organoids, with researchers successfully growing organoids from fetal cells found in amniotic fluid. This could revolutionize prenatal diagnoses by providing information about how fetal organs are developing. Lung organoids grown from fetal cells showed promising results, but more research is needed. Organoids grown from fetal cells could potentially improve prenatal diagnoses for conditions that affect organ function in the womb.

As medicine continues to advance, there are few areas quite as groundbreaking and awe-inspiring as the growing field of organoids, three-dimensional structures that mimic the properties of human organs. And now, researchers have taken a huge leap forward by successfully creating organoids from fetal cells, specifically from cells found in the amniotic fluid surrounding and protecting a growing fetus in the womb. This discovery could change the way prenatal diagnoses are made, by providing doctors with more information about how fetal organs are developing.

Previous attempts at creating organoids from fetal cells have relied on discarded fetal tissue, but this research team has shown that it is possible to use the cells found in amniotic fluid, a source that does not harm the developing fetus. This new technique has been praised as revolutionary by experts in the field, with stem cell biologist Oren Pleniceanu calling it "groundbreaking" and likening it to a "free biopsy." .

But there are challenges to overcome. One of the first steps the team had to take was to map the identity of the cells found in the amniotic fluid. This was done using single-cell sequencing, a technique that allowed the researchers to assess where the cells originated. After identifying the types of cells present, the team placed three different kinds of progenitor cells, specific to kidneys, lungs, and small intestines, into a 3D culture to see if organoids could be formed.

Coauthor Paolo De Coppi, a pediatric surgeon at University College London and the Great Ormond Street Hospital, described the process as "low tech," but the results were astounding. The organoids successfully grew and began to develop features similar to those found in their respective organs. For example, the lung organoids developed cilia, hair-like structures crucial for proper lung function.

This breakthrough has major implications for prenatal diagnoses, as currently, doctors rely heavily on imaging to detect any potential issues in fetal development. However, this method only allows for detection and not assessment of severity or impacts on organ function. To test the potential of using organoids as a diagnostic tool, the research team collected cells from fetuses with a condition known as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). This condition causes a gap in the diaphragm, allowing organs from the abdomen to push into the chest cavity and compress the lungs. De Coppi explains that this compression often leads to underdeveloped lungs and a survival rate of only 70%.

By comparing organoids grown from healthy fetuses with those grown from fetuses with CDH, the team was able to see noticeable differences in the development and function of the organoids. Both sets of organoids initially appeared similar, but as the researchers pushed for differentiation to mimic certain areas of the lung, they found that the organoids from fetuses with CDH struggled more and showed abnormalities in the formation of cilia. This suggests that organoids grown from fetal cells could provide crucial information about how conditions like CDH impact organ development and function in the womb.