Organoids in the Human Reproductive System

Abstract

Introduction: The limitation of using the animal as the model for studying human reproductive diseases is that the biological background of the animal may not recapitulate the pathology of human diseases. Therefore, human cell culture technology is progressively developed to replace the use of animal models. Adherent cell culture or two-dimension (2D) culture condition has long been widely applied for a culture of several primary or pathological reproductive cell lines, including Hela cells, an immortal endometrial cell line. However, the data obtained from 2D culture conditions may not always be translated or recapitulated in vivo, especially in the disease mechanisms. Here we review the organoid technology currently applied for the female and male reproductive system, focusing on the progress of technologies used in different reproductive organs and future applications, especially for regenerative medicine. Methods: In this chapter, MEDLINE/Pubmed and Scopus databases were used for a survey of the literature. The keywords used for searching were; 3D culture, organoids, male reproductive organs, female reproductive organs, disease modelling, stem cells, personalised medicine. Results: Reproductive organoids can be generated from adult stem cells, which are established directly from the healthy or pathogenic tissue of reproductive organs, or pluripotent stem cells, which latter are being differentiated into the reproductive cells. Specific 3D-culture conditions such as extracellular matrices, signalling pathways, or cross-talked between different cell types in the organoid have to be manipulated to successfully maintain the reproductive organoids in the in vitro system. Moreover, the patient-derived reproductive organoids are feasible for developing drug screening tests for individual cancer patients. Conclusions: Interestingly, patient-derived reproductive cancer organoids are currently developed for biobanking. The advantages of applying the organoids in modelling human infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and cancers that cause reproductive organ problems. The organoid biobanking will further assist drug development platforms, personalised medicine.KeywordsReproductive organsPluripotent stem cellsDisease modellingIn vitro culture