Cholangiopathies account for a remarkable proportion of liver transplantation cases, reinforcing the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Organoids hold great promise as novel cell-based therapies, although their applicability has not been addressed in humans. Now, a new study has reported the therapeutic effectiveness of cholangiocyte organoids to repair the injured human biliary epithelium.
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Acknowledgements
Spanish Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) (J.M.B.: FIS PI15/01132, PI18/01075 and Miguel Servet Program CON14/00129 and CPII19/00008) co-financed by “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER); CIBERehd (ISCIII): J.M.B., P.M.R.; IKERBASQUE, Basque foundation for Science (J.M.B.), Spain; BIOEF (Basque Foundation for Innovation and Health Research: EiTB Maratoia BIO15/CA/016/BD to J.M.B.), Department of Health of the Basque Country (J.M.B.: 2017111010) and Euskadi RIS3 (J.M.B.: 2016222001, 2017222014, 2018222029; 2019222054, 2020333010); Department of Industry of the Basque Country (Elkartek: KK-2020/00008 to J.M.B.). La Caixa Scientific Foundation (J.M.B.: HR17-00601). “Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer” (AECC Scientific Foundation, to J.M.B.). P.M.R. was funded by the ISCIII (“Sara Borrell” fellowship CD19/00254).
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Rodrigues, P.M., Banales, J.M. Applications of organoids in regenerative medicine: a proof-of-concept for biliary injury. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 18, 371–372 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00459-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00459-9