Preparation of organoids with human placental structure and construction of placental barrier ability evaluation system

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K18936
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 28:Nano/micro science and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Kaji Hirokazu 東京医科歯科大学, 生体材料工学研究所, 教授 (70431525)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 堀 武志 東京医科歯科大学, 生体材料工学研究所, 助教 (30808829)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 生体模倣システム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study attempted to create organoids with the villous structure of the human placenta using recently established human placenta-derived trophoblast stem cells (TS cells). By seeding TS cells into microwells made of agarose and controlling growth factors involved in placenta formation, spherical placental organoids with the villous structure on their surface were successfully created. In addition, based on the culture conditions of the spherical placental organoids, a planar placental barrier model was also created that enables quantitative evaluation of the placental permeability to substances.

Free Research Field

生体医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発したヒト胎盤オルガノイドは、ウイルスなどが胎盤に感染するメカニズムや妊娠高血圧症候群に関わる胎盤形成不全のメカニズムを解明する上で有用である。また、胎児への副作用を抑えた新しい医薬品の開発や、実験動物を使用しない医薬品安全性評価（動物実験代替法）の開発などにも応用可能である。