According to a study published yesterday in PLOS ONE, researchers have created a 3D model derived from stem cells that could be used as a new tool to study small intestine related diseases. The work is spearheaded by Ying Chen and David Kaplan from Tufts University and their colleagues.
To create this model, the researchers used a 3D silk scaffold to cultivate human stem cell-derived small intestine-like enteroids and compared it to the appearance and function of an actual small intestine environment.
They found that the cells in the model had successfully differentiated into a mature epithelium layer with all four of the major intestinal cell types and displayed important small intestine characteristics such as tight junctions, polarized microvilli, and secretion of digestive enzymes. In addition, when infected with Escherichia coli, the researchers saw an antibacterial response and upregulation of genes involved in the innate immune response.
The authors believe that their model could help towards replacing animal models and study the pathogenesis of bowel-related conditions.