Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht researchers presented lab-grown tear glands using stem cells, simulating the actual ones.
In a CΙNET report, disembodied human tear glands that cry sound is described like something inspired by a sci-fi movie. However, in the Netherlands, functional tear glands not attached to any individual's eyes or even emotions, are said to be stirring in their own real-life drama.
Essentially, the researchers are hoping these so-called organoids can function as models for investigating how the cells in human tear glands are producing tears.
And the ultimate goal, according to the said report, is to better understand the treat health problems like dry eye disease Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, and cancers of the tear gland. The disease is described on Johns Hopkins Rheumatology's YouTube video below.
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'Organoid' Type Potentially Transplantable to Patients
According to Marie Bannier- Hélaouët, a doctoral candidate at the Hubrecht Institute for developmental biology and stem cell research, hopefully in the future, this organoid type may even be transplantable to patients who have nonfunctioning tear glands. Bannier- Hélaouët is the co-author of the study which the Cell Stem Cell journal published (Exploring the human lacrimal gland using organoids and single-cell sequencing).
Organoids are built in vitro, in 3D suspension from a small number of stem cells, eventually multiplying to form something that resembles a real organ, like a bladder, mini-brain, or in this particular case, the glands found inside the upper eyelid.
Essentially, tear or lacrimal glands continuously supply fluid wiped across the eye's surface every time a human blinks, and then drains into tiny holes in the upper and lower lids' corner before traveling down the tear ducts to the nose.
On top of showing emotion, the fluid is vital to health of the eyes as it lubricates the cornea and helps in warding off of bacteria.
Tear gland dysfunction can be irritating, resulting in scratching, stinging or burning sensations, not to mention, sensitivity to light.
However, it can also be severe, resulting from corneal abrasions or ulcerations. It can even lead to blindness in most severe conditions.
Lab-Grown Tear Glands
Tear glands comprise several types of cells. The Netherlands' lab-grown glands are made up of just a single type, ductal and cry in reaction to chemical stimuli like noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter, sending a message from the neurons to the tear glands.
Bannier-Hélaouët explained that the human eyes are consistently wet, and so are the tear glands in the petri dish. The doctoral candidate is working in the laboratory of molecular biologist Hans Clevers, which is focusing on creating organoids for disease modeling and has formerly recreated snake venom glands and mice tear glands.
As indicated in a CNET report, it's not like one would walk into the lab and see large tear-shaped drops that float in jars. Instead, the cells shed tears on the inside part of the organoid, identified as lumen.
This is leading the organoid to swell up like a balloon, with the size specifying the manner tear production and secretion are occurring.
This is not the first time researchers are developing components of human eye from cells. In 2018, a team from John Hopkins University developed eyeball parts, hoping to better understand the manner and reason trichromatic vision had been developed. This is the ability to see blue, red and green colors.
The Dutch scientists recognize limitations to their tear glands, as it is made of just one of the main types of cells that exist in the gland.
The researchers said that they'd ultimately like to grow a full tear gland out of the more extensive range of cells that make it up, getting an even more vigorous understanding of how tears are formed.
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