The generation of human embryonic like structures containing extracellular tissues helps to further understand the "black box development stage"

Tech 2023-07-21 09:03:36 Source: Network

Science and Technology Daily reporter Zhang MengranIn a study published in the journal Cell on the 20th, researchers from the Southwest Medical Center of the University of Texas reported a new method to develop "Gastrula", including an important tissue - Yolk sac, which was missing in previous models.Gastrulation is a process in which the embryo reconstructs itself from a hollow sphere to a multi-layer structure, and is considered as the "black box" of human development research

Science and Technology Daily reporter Zhang Mengran

In a study published in the journal Cell on the 20th, researchers from the Southwest Medical Center of the University of Texas reported a new method to develop "Gastrula", including an important tissue - Yolk sac, which was missing in previous models.

Gastrulation is a process in which the embryo reconstructs itself from a hollow sphere to a multi-layer structure, and is considered as the "black box" of human development research. This is because due to bioethical considerations, the culture time of human embryo models usually does not exceed 14 days, while Gastrulation occurs between 17 and 21 days after fertilization. In addition, the current stem cell model simulating Gastrulation cannot include the extraembryonic tissues necessary for the production of Yolk sac and placenta.

Human Gastrulation and early organ models were developed from triggered human pluripotent stem cells. However, this new method does not use more commonly used triggered pluripotent stem cells, but uses expanded pluripotent stem cells (EPSC). Previously, it has been proven that these cells can differentiate into embryonic and extracellular tissues in mice. By adding appropriate growth factors to human EPSC, they differentiate into these two types of tissues. These cells then organize themselves into structures similar to human embryos, which researchers call "Gastrula".

Extraembryonic tissues will release chemical signals that guide embryonic development, which enables Gastrula to imitate the important process of "black box development". The Yolk sac cavity that provides blood supply for the embryo develops around the Gastrula, and the surrounding cells also show early signs of organogenesis, such as neurogenesis, which marks the beginning of the development of the central nervous system.

The research team claims that this method is efficient and repeatable. In a small-scale experiment, they were able to produce hundreds of Gastrula cells.

The exclusion of trophoblastic cells that produce placentas by Gastrula helps to alleviate the ethical issues of this study. This project follows international stem cell research guidelines and has been approved by the Stem Cell Supervision Committee of the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center.

Although this name may be rarely heard, Gastrulation is actually a decisive moment in the early stage of human development. This process starts around 14 days after fertilization and lasts for about a week. At present, the understanding of the scientific community on Gastrulation is basically limited to experimental models and cannot be directly studied because it is difficult to obtain human embryos at this stage, partly because the international guidelines limit the time limit for cultivating human embryos to 14 days after fertilization. The significance of this study lies in this: it can not only help humans further understand the so-called "black box development stage", but also break through previous limitations.

(Source: Science and Technology Daily)

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