Advances in Prenatal Medicine through 'Mini-Organs' Grown from Human Stem Cells
Researchers have grown 'mini-organs' using human stem cells from pregnancy, leading to advances in prenatal medicine by observing human development in late pregnancy to treat congenital conditions. The organoids can study organ function in health and disease, allowing for monitoring of foetal development and disease progression. The research was done by UCL and GOSH, with a focus on congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and could potentially lead to more effective treatments in the future.
Key Points
- Organoids grown from amniotic fluid cells retain baby's biological information
- Researchers studied lung, kidney, and intestine stem cells to grow mini-organs
- Study focused on congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and potential treatments
- Findings published in Nature Medicine
Pros
- Potential for observing human development in late pregnancy
- Monitoring and treating congenital conditions before birth
- Studying organ function in health and disease
- Testing new treatments such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
Cons
- Regulations limit the timeframe for obtaining foetal samples
- Treatment of congenital diseases still needs further study
- Ethical concerns surrounding the use of human stem cells