Scientists have grown esophageal tissue from both human and mouse stem cells, paving the way for new therapies to treat kids born with missing portions of the food pipe.
The tissue-engineered oesophagus formed on a relatively simple biodegradable scaffold after the researchers transplanted mouse and human organ-specific stem/progenitor cells into a murine model, according to principal investigator Tracy C Grikscheit, from The Saban Research Institute and paediatric surgeon at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Progenitor cells have the ability to differentiate into specific types of cells, and can migrate to the tissue where they are needed.
Their potential to differentiate depends on their type of "parent" stem cell and also on their niche.
The tissue-engineering technique discovered by the researchers required only a simple polymer to deliver the cells, and multiple cellular groupings show the ability to generate a replacement organ with all cell layers and functions.
"We found that multiple combinations of cell populations allowed subsequent formation of engineered tissue. Different progenitor cells can find the right 'partner' cell in order to grow into specific esophageal cell types - such as epithelium, muscle or nerve cells - and without the need for exogenous growth factors. This means that successful tissue engineering of the oesophagus is simpler than we previously thought," said Grikscheit.
She added that the study shows promise for one day applying the process in children who have been born with missing portions of the organ, which carries food, liquids and saliva from the mouth to the stomach.
The process might also be used in patients who have had esophageal cancer - the fastest growing type of cancer in the US - or otherwise damaged tissue, for example from accidentally swallowing caustic substances.
"We have demonstrated that a simple and versatile, biodegradable polymer is sufficient for the growth of tissue-engineered oesophagus from human cells," added Grikscheit.
The study was published in the journal Tissue Engineering.
