Enteroids

Enteroids are three-dimensional in vitro models of the intestinal epithelium. They are derived from intestinal stem cells and possess key characteristics of the native intestinal lining, including villous-like structures and differentiation into various intestinal cell types such as absorptive enterocytes, goblet cells, enteroendocrine cells, and Paneth cells. These organoids are typically generated by culturing intestinal stem cells in specialized basement membrane matrix and supplemented with growth factors that mimic the in vivo environment.

The development of enteroids has revolutionized the study of intestinal biology. They provide a more physiologically relevant platform compared to traditional cell culture methods, which often consist of flattened monolayers of a single cell type. Enteroids allow for the investigation of intestinal development, tissue regeneration, and the complex interactions between the host and the gut microbiota. They are also valuable tools for studying intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, as they can be derived from patient samples, enabling personalized research and drug screening. Furthermore, enteroids can be engineered to incorporate other cell types, such as immune cells or neurons, to create more complex and representative intestinal models.