Researchers recently developed a bone marrow model to study how the body generates cells. Interestingly, this model is the first of its kind to be developed entirely from human cells. Not only can this improve our translational research to better impact human biology, but can reduce the use of animal models for research.
The bone marrow in our bodies is the site where blood is made as well as most of our cells. The specialized tissue in the bone is a combination of bone cells, blood vessels, nerves, and other cell types. Daily biological activities are dependent on the bone marrow because it replenishes cells our bodies need to function. Therefore, when processes in the bone marrow become dysregulated, it can have deleterious effects on our health. For example, blood or hematologic malignancies are the direct result of bone marrow dysfunction. In cases of cancer or other diseases, it becomes critical to understand how cells in the bone marrow develop and become skewed.
Previous research on bone marrow function relied heavily on animal models and culture systems that were oversimplified. Unfortunately, the conclusions from studies that used these methods were context dependent and not as clinically relevant. Consequently, there is a critical need for more translational models to study cell development in the bone marrow.
A recent paper in Cell Stem Cell, by Dr. Andres Garcia-Garcia and others, developed a 3D bone marrow model that mimics human bone marrow. This 3D cell culture system, developed with human bone marrow cells, can now be used in blood cancer research and other uses to test drugs and biological processes. Garcia-Garcia is a researcher and Project Leader in the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel. His projects focus on the development of bone marrow models and engineering treatments to enhance bone healing.
Researchers highlight the diversity of the bone marrow and how it is made of various compartments or ‘niches’. A specific microenvironment, known as the endosteal niche, is critical for the development of blood cells. It is also directly related to hematological cancers and how some are resistant to therapy. Garcia-Garcia and his team worked to recreate this niche in a dish with all the various cell types to improve immunotherapy research. The model is made of an artificial bone structure implanted with stem cells that were treated with different molecules and proteins to control cell development. This process was reproducible and analyzed to confirm it closely resembles human endosteal niches. As a result, researchers can maintain long-term human blood formation in the laboratory.
The development of a human 3D bone marrow culture system is revolutionary. This work now provides a platform that enable researchers to easily study the bone marrow. Additionally, since the model mimics human endosteal niches, its translational relevance to the clinic surpasses previous models. Researchers can use this to design treatments for hematological malignancies by generating personalized culture systems for each patient. The generation of personalized bone marrow cultures has the potential to improve our knowledge of bone marrow processes and enhance therapies in patients with cancer.
Paper, Cell Stem Cell, Andres Garcia-Garcia, University of Basel