Cholangiocyte organoids can repair bile ducts after transplantation in the human liver

TLDR

Bile ducts transport bile, and cholangiocytes line and modify it; chronic cholangiocyte disease contributes to liver failure, and donor shortages limit transplantation options. The authors used cholangiocyte organoids, derived from human tissue, and transplanted them into the intrahepatic ducts of deceased donor livers during ex vivo normothermic perfusion. The perfused livers were maintained for up to 100 h, during which the organoids engrafted, functioned, and repaired bile ducts. The study is reported in *Science*, issue p.

Abstract

Organoids regenerate human bile ducts Bile ducts carry bile from the liver and gall bladder to the small intestine, where it aids digestion. Cholangiocytes are epithelial cells that line bile ducts and modify bile as its transported through the biliary tree. Chronic liver diseases involving cholangiocytes account for a large fraction of liver failure and the need for liver transplantation. Because liver donors are in short supply, Sampaziotis et al. used organoid technology to develop a cell-based therapy using human tissue (see the Perspective by Kurial and Willenbring). Cholangiocyte organoids were transplanted into the intrahepatic ducts of deceased human donor livers undergoing ex vivo normothermic perfusion. The livers could be maintained for up to 100 hours, and the transplanted organoids engrafted, exhibited function, and could repair bile ducts. Science , this issue p. 839 ; see also p. 786