In vitro cell culture models are indispensable tools for translational research, but the biological relevance of 2-D cell lines is limited by reduced cell-to-cell interactions compared to original tissue niches. This is especially true for anatomically and physiologically diverse organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, which depends on communication between various cell types to achieve distinct yet coordinated functions along its length.
3-D organoid cell culture models—miniature organs grown from tissue-derived stem cells—are useful alternatives to traditional 2-D systems. Under carefully maintained culture conditions that mimic the stem cell niche, these cells self-organize to form mature organoids that retain the cellular subtypes of the native tissue. 3-D organoids derived from adult human tissue samples provide a more accurate representation of in vivo disease because they preserve the original tissue physiology, molecular pathology, and patient- and disease-specific characteristics. As translational research models, they are a versatile tool for understanding pathobiology, performing ...
