There was a simple way to create lung tissue. It will study medicines and diseases

As the tissue develops, it forms a three-dimensional structure with tiny hairs on the surface: this is typical for

lung tissue. According to the authors, such organoids could play an important role in research on lung disease, as well as help in drug development and personalized treatment. 

The method we have created for growing lung tissue is simple and inexpensive. At the same time, organelles reproduce well all important biological aspects.

Peter Walentek, doctor and lead researcher

The study was led by scientists from the CaliforniaUniversity of San Francisco, USA, in close collaboration with researchers from Freiburg. The authors combined lung cells with the two messengers after two weeks of culture in the laboratory. Organelles then formed.

Previously, this process included manystages. For example, cells that have been removed must first be brought into an embryonic state using sophisticated techniques. In addition, the outer part of the tissue in such organoids was always directed inward and was much less similar to the natural model.

In the future, this simple method will allow us to grow tissue from individual patients in the laboratory to test in advance whether a therapy is effective or not. 

Peter Walentek, doctor and lead researcher

Scientists can also use the organoid toto study how healthy lung tissue develops and how genetic changes influence, for example, the formation of tiny hair-like structures.

These structures are called cilia.Malformation of cilia leads not only to lung diseases, but also to genetic diseases of the kidneys, which we are investigating at the NEPHGEN Collaborative Research Center (SFB1453).

Peter Walentek, doctor and lead researcher

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