Compiled by | Xu Rui
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, tears are the weapon that protects this window from harm and infection. And the production of this weapon relies on a thin, soft, smooth, and transparent film called the conjunctiva that adheres to the inner eyelids and the surface of the eyeball.The conjunctiva participates in tear production by releasing mucus. This mucus allows tears to adhere to the surface of the eyeball, protecting it from pathogen invasion.However, the conjunctiva is not invincible. It can easily become infected or trigger allergic reactions, leading to conditions such as dry eye syndrome or even cancer. When the conjunctiva is severely damaged, it can cause visual impairment. For a long time, due to the lack of a good human conjunctiva model, research on conjunctival diseases and their healthy functions has been limited. Therefore, the treatment options for conjunctival diseases have been very limited.For this reason, the organoid research team at the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands has been exploring how to fill in the gaps with organoid models.In a study published on January 11 in Cell Stem Cell, the research team used human conjunctival cells to cultivate the first human conjunctival organoid model in a petri dish. This organoid is able to mimic the function of the human conjunctiva.In addition, the researchers discovered a new cell type called Tuft cells in conjunctival tissue using this model. Tuft cells are known to increase under allergic conditions and may play a role in allergic reactions. Furthermore, the organoid model can be used to test various drugs for treating conjunctival diseases."By using functional organoids to understand how the conjunctiva participates in tear production, we found that the conjunctiva produces antimicrobial components. It shows that the conjunctiva is not just responsible for producing mucus but also contributes to tear production in many other ways," said Marie Bannier-Hélaouet, the lead researcher of the team. They changed the culture environment in the petri dish to simulate allergic reactions and found that the organoid model started producing tears that were different from before."Tears produced under allergic conditions have more mucus and more antimicrobial components, and they are enriched with Tuft cells," Bannier-Hélaouet explained. While similar cells exist in other tissues, Tuft cells had not been previously discovered in the human conjunctiva.The newly developed organoid model has opened the door for studying conjunctival diseases. "For example, we can use the organoid model to test drugs for allergies or dry eye disease," Bannier-Hélaouet said. In the long run, it may even be possible to cultivate replaceable conjunctiva for patients with eye burns, eye cancer, and inherited eye diseases."Currently, we are conducting preclinical studies on rabbits to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach," Bannier-Hélaouet said.Related Paper Information:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2023.12.008
China Science Daily (2024-01-16, 2nd Edition International)Editor | Zhao LuLayout | Guo GangPlease scan the QR code below for 3 seconds to recognize
