The promise and potential of liver organoids: Development, classification and application

The liver plays a primary role in several processes like synthesis, detoxification, immunity, homeostasis and blood volume regulation. Notably, liver diseases account for around2 million deaths annually worldwide, representing about 4% of total mortality. Although several treatment options exist, liver transplantation remains the only effective therapy for end-stage liver diseases. Nonetheless, the clinical application of liver transplantation is still hindered by several obstacles. These limitations underscore the need for novel alternative therapies. Unlike most tissues and organs, the liver exhibits remarkable regenerative capacity. Thus, in recent years, researchers have turned to organoid models.

In a recent review published in TransMed, a team of researchers provide an overview of the development of liver organoids, highlighting key milestones, breakthroughs, and challenges that have shaped their evolution into indispensable tools in liver biology and medicine. They also discussed the foundational discoveries that laid the groundwork for liver organoids research, the techniques of liver organoids culture, and the diverse applications of liver organoids.

Compared with traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures and animal models, organoids have shown promising functional characteristics that mimic the liver, offering potential therapeutic benefits. Numerous studies have demonstrated that liver organoids not only exhibit robust liver functions in vitro but also provide functional support when grafted into animal models. This suggests that liver organoids might be a feasible therapeutic option for end-stage liver diseases.

Liver organoids have also garnered increasing attention as a potential source of transplantable liver tissue for regenerative medicine. While challenges remain, liver organoids offer a potential avenue for addressing the growing demand for liver transplantation and mitigating the shortage of donor organs.

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Contact the author: Yifan Wang, Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, anwyf@zju.edu.cn

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