For the first time, a lung tissue model composed exclusively of cells derived from a single donor has been developed. This novel creation was introduced by researchers from the Francis Crick Institute in London and the Swiss company AlveoliX.
The system mimics the fundamental functions of the alveoli, including respiratory motion. A major benefit of the model is the utilization of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from one donor, enabling the creation of a genetically uniform cellular system, removing the issue of cellular “incompatibility” common in earlier models.
Max Gutierrez, head of the Pathogen-Host Interaction in Tuberculosis laboratory at the Crick Institute, stressed the importance of this approach for building physiological human systems without using animal models, whose anatomy and immune response substantially differ from human ones.
The model is situated on a microchip and simulates breathing movements via rhythmic three-dimensional stretching. This mechanical stimulus is vital for the proper formation of key cellular structures, such as microvilli.
To investigate tuberculosis, immune cells (macrophages) and bacteria obtained from the same donor were added to the model. Scientists were able to observe the initial stages of infection in real time, including the formation of “necrotic cores”—aggregations of dead immune cells—several days before the lung barrier integrity was compromised.
Luke, a researcher in the Jackson laboratory, noted that tuberculosis is a slow-progressing ailment with clinical signs that might appear months following infection. Visualizing the early phases of the disease is crucial for medicine.
The new technology opens prospects for personalized medicine, allowing for the testing of, for instance, antibiotics on models with a specific genetic makeup. In the future, this method could be applied to study other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, COVID-19, and lung cancer.
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