Article: Crying human tear glands grown in the lab
Source: Hubrecht Institute (Netherlands), via Technology Networks
Published: March 16, 2021
Article: Scientists Grew Tear Glands in a Dish, And Made Them Cry
Source: ScienceAlert
Published: March 16, 2021
Article: We grew human tear glands in the lab, and now we’re making them cry
Source: The Conversation
Published: March 17, 2021
Scientists in the Netherlands produced human lacrimal gland organoids in vitro that produced tears. The particular tear gland cell type they grew were ductal cells from adult human pluripotent stem cells. By using a modified cocktail of growth-stimulating factors, the researchers caused the tear cell organoids to produce lacrimal fluid, the hallmark of the lacrimal gland. Similar to the way people cry in response to pain, these tear gland organoids produce tears in response to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine/noradrenaline. The organoids shed tears in their lumen, not unexpected for ductal cells, and the amount of swelling could be used as an indicator of tear production. Additionally, the researchers explored the possibility of lacrimal gland transplantation. When transplanted into a
mouse lacrimal gland, the human cells in these organoids integrated into the gland and formed duct structures. At two months, the cells were continuing to grow and divide and even produced tear proteins. Having a lacrimal gland model that responds to neurostransmitters to
produce tears is useful in the study of diseases that affect the
lacrimal glands, such as Sjogren's syndrome and cancers of the lacrimal gland, as well as facilitate an in vitro study of the effects of
therapeutics.
My rating of this study:
⭐⭐⭐
Bannier-Hélaouët M, Post Y, Korvig J, et al. "Exploring the human lacrimal gland using organoids and single-cell sequencing." Cell Stem Cell. 16 March 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.02.024
No comments:
Post a Comment