Our proposal addresses some of the solutions to the development of complex 3- dimensional tissue models and a new paradigm by using lymph node as in vivo bioreactors to grow tissue or organ substitute. Our initial study and prove of concept will be centered around the generation of ectopic liver in lymph nodes for patients suffering end-stage liver diseases. Hepatocyte transplantation has been reported as a possible therapeutic approach for liver disease. However, transplantation has been directed at the liver itself, limiting efficacy in patients with end-stage liver diseases, when cirrhosis and fibrosis are common. In this proposal we demonstrate that the generation of an ectopic liver within lymph nodes is an efficient method to restore hepatic function, highlighting the novel use of this organ as a site for hepatocyte transplantation. Homeostatic expansion of donor hepatocytes in lymph nodes resulted in the rescue of lethal hepatic failure. These data provide the first definitive evidence that a functional ectopic liver can rescue lethal hepatic diseases. Furthermore, with the efficacy of this approach suggests that lymph nodes have therapeutic potential for cell-based transplantation and tissue engineering. Our new paradigm to generate functional liver tissues in lymph nodes will be further applied to other tissues.
Our proposal addresses some of the hurdles confronting the development of complex 3-D tissue models, and provides a new paradigm for tissue modeling, by using lymph nodes as in vivo bioreactors to grow tissue or organ substitutes.
| Utoh, Rie; Komori, Junji; Kuge, Hiroyuki et al. (2017) Adult hepatocytes direct liver organogenesis through non-parenchymal cell recruitment in the kidney. J Hepatol : |
| Francipane, Maria Giovanna; Lagasse, Eric (2016) Regenerating a kidney in a lymph node. Pediatr Nephrol 31:1553-60 |
| Francipane, Maria Giovanna; Lagasse, Eric (2016) Towards Organs on Demand: Breakthroughs and Challenges in Models of Organogenesis. Curr Pathobiol Rep 4:77-85 |
| Francipane, Maria Giovanna; Lagasse, Eric (2016) Pluripotent Stem Cells to Rebuild a Kidney: The Lymph Node as a Possible Developmental Niche. Cell Transplant 25:1007-23 |
| Manohar, Rohan; Li, Yaming; Fohrer, Helene et al. (2015) Identification of a candidate stem cell in human gallbladder. Stem Cell Res 14:258-69 |
| Cramer, Julie M; Thompson, Timothy; Geskin, Albert et al. (2015) Distinct human stem cell populations in small and large intestine. PLoS One 10:e0118792 |
| Francipane, Maria Giovanna; Lagasse, Eric (2015) The lymph node as a new site for kidney organogenesis. Stem Cells Transl Med 4:295-307 |
| Komori, Junji; DeWard, Aaron D; Gramignoli, Roberto et al. (2014) Potential barriers to human hepatocyte transplantation in MUP-uPAtg(?/?)Rag2?/??C?/? mice. Cell Transplant 23:1537-44 |
| Francipane, Maria Giovanna; Lagasse, Eric (2014) Maturation of embryonic tissues in a lymph node: a new approach for bioengineering complex organs. Organogenesis 10:323-31 |
| DeWard, Aaron D; Komori, Junji; Lagasse, Eric (2014) Ectopic transplantation sites for cell-based therapy. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 19:169-74 |
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