In a century from agitated cells to human organoids

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Suspension cultures have been instrumental in understanding histogenesis for over a century.
• The vertebrate retina has served as a model for analyzing complex neural tissue reconstruction.
• Culturing cells in suspension is key for achieving in vitro tissue organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the historical and ongoing significance of suspension cultures in biological research.
• To emphasize the role of suspension cultures in advancing regenerative medicine using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).
• To showcase the potential of organoids derived from hiPSCs as in vitro models and for transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing suspension culture techniques to maintain cells in a non-adherent state.
• Employing genetically directed differentiation of hiPSCs into specific histologic structures.
• Analyzing the emergent histotypic features influenced by environmental conditions in suspension.

Main Results:

• Suspension cultures provide insights into cell communication, self/nonself distinction, cell sorting, and adhesion.
• Organoids derived from hiPSCs serve as versatile in vitro assay models and potential tissues for repair.
• Early achievements in avian retinal spheroid reconstruction demonstrated the potential for stem cell-based tissue engineering.

Conclusions:

• Suspension culture is a fundamental technique for in vitro tissue organization and reconstruction.
• Human induced pluripotent stem cells cultured in suspension are pivotal for creating organoids in regenerative medicine.
• The long-standing success of suspension cultures in tissue engineering foreshadows future therapeutic applications.