Scientists create first human mini stomach using stem cells

Washington: The first functional 3D human stomach tissue in a laboratory has been grown by scientists using pluripotent stem cells.

Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center used human pluripotent stem cells, which can become any cell type in the body, to grow a miniature version of the stomach.

Representational image. Agencies

In collaboration with researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, they used laboratory generated mini-stomachs to study infection by H pylori bacteria, a major cause of peptic ulcer and stomach cancer.

This first-time molecular generation of 3D human gastric organoids presents new opportunities for drug discovery and studying some of the underpinnings of obesity related diabetes, according to Jim Wells, principal investigator.

It also is the first time researchers have produced 3D human embryonic foregut — a promising starting point for generating other foregut organ tissues like the lungs and pancreas, he said.

PTI