generating-3d-spheres-2d-air-liquid-interface-cultures-human-induced

Generating 3D Spheres and 2D Air-Liquid Interface Cultures of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Type 2 Alveolar Epithelial Cells

In the lung, the alveolar epithelium is a physical barrier from environmental stimuli and plays an essential role in homeostasis and disease. Type 2 ...

Boston University and Boston Medical Center

Boston University School of Medicine

Stem cell-based therapies to reconstitute  organ function hold great promise for future clinical applications to a variety of diseases. Hypothyroidism resulting from congenital lack of functional thyrocytes, surgical tissue removal, or gland ablation, represents a particularly attractive endocrine disease target that may be conceivably cured by transplantation of long-lived functional thyroid progenitors or mature follicular epithelial cells, provided a source of autologous cells can be generated and a variety of technical and biological challenges can be surmounted. Here we review the emerging literature indicating that thyroid follicular epithelial cells can now be engineered  from the pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) of mice, normal humans, or patients with congenital hypothyroidism. We review the  embryonic development of the thyroid gland and explain how emerging discoveries in developmental biology have been utilized as a roadmap for driving PSCs, which resemble cells of the early embryo, into mature functional thyroid follicles . Finally, we discuss the bioengineering, biological, and clinical hurdles that now need to be addressed if the goals of life-long cure of hypothyroidism through cell- and/or gene-based therapies are to be attained.

Andrea B. Alber

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JoVE Journal Publications

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