Chapter 18 - Cerebral and noncerebral organoids

Abstract

In 2011 the team of Eiraku and colleagues demonstrated that it was possible to create a three-dimensional neural cell culture in a dish. Models of this kind took the name of “organoids.” They are in vitro, self-organizing model systems that can be used to recapitulate a variety of tissues. They can be grown starting either way from embryonic (ES), adult (ASC), or induced pluripotent (iPSC) stem cells. Human-derived cerebral (or brain) organoids are in vitro self-organizing three-dimensional models employed for the study of the human central nervous system. According to the features that they are required to display, they can be differentiated following two diverse approaches, depending on whether patterning factors are added during the culture: guided or unguided approach. Organoids and brain organoids in particular mimic the structure and function of the corresponding human organ and are already widely used to study biological development, investigate a number of diseases, prepare personalized treatments, and in the future have organs for transplantation. But organoids and, brain organoids in particular, also raise relevant ethical issues that we examine in detail in this chapter. They range from cell origins, biobanking, and usage of brain organoids to nonhuman animals and grafted organoids to potential consciousness and moral status.