2021年3月16日，荷兰乌得勒支大学医学中心Hans Clevers团队在《细胞—干细胞》杂志发表论文，开发出人类泪腺的类器官。
研究人员报道了小鼠和人类泪腺的长期3D类器官培养条件的建立。类器官可以扩增数个月，并涵盖了泪管的形态和转录特征。CRISPR-Cas9介导的基因组编辑发现，眼睛发育的主要调控因子Pax6是成年泪腺细胞分化所需的。研究人员通过提供人类泪腺组织和类器官的单细胞图谱来解析了泪腺的细胞异质性。
最后，人类泪腺类器官表型复制了对神经递质的泪液分泌过程，并且可以在小鼠原位移植后植入并产生成熟的泪液产物。总之，这项研究提供了一个实验平台来研究泪腺的（病理）生理学。
据了解，泪腺对于润滑和保护眼睛至关重要。泪液产生、成分或释放的中断会导致干眼，引起不适和对眼表的损害。
附：英文原文
Title: Exploring the human lacrimal gland using organoids and single-cell sequencing
Author: Marie Bannier-Hélaout, Yorick Post, Jeroen Korving, Marc Trani Bustos, Helmuth Gehart, Harry Begthel, Yotam E. Bar-Ephraim, Jelte van der Vaart, Rachel Kalmann, Saskia M. Imhoff, Hans Clevers
Issue&Volume: 2021-03-16
Abstract: The lacrimal gland is essential for lubrication and protection of the eye. Disruptionof lacrimal fluid production, composition, or release results in dry eye, causingdiscomfort and damage to the ocular surface. Here, we describe the establishment oflong-term 3D organoid culture conditions for mouse and human lacrimal gland. Organoidscan be expanded over multiple months and recapitulate morphological and transcriptionalfeatures of lacrimal ducts. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing reveals the masterregulator for eye development Pax6 to be required for differentiation of adult lacrimal gland cells. We address cellularheterogeneity of the lacrimal gland by providing a single-cell atlas of human lacrimalgland tissue and organoids. Finally, human lacrimal gland organoids phenocopy theprocess of tear secretion in response to neurotransmitters and can engraft and producemature tear products upon orthotopic transplantation in mouse. Together, this studyprovides an experimental platform to study the (patho-)physiology of the lacrimalgland.
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.02.024
Source: https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(21)00075-8
Cell Stem Cell：《细胞—干细胞》，创刊于2007年。隶属于细胞出版社，最新IF：25.269
官方网址：https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/home
投稿链接：https://www.editorialmanager.com/cell-stem-cell/default.aspx
本期文章：《细胞—干细胞》：Online/在线发表
