REVIEW article
Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Stem Cell Research
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1574283
This article is part of the Research TopicModeling Organogenesis: Advancements in Three-Dimensional Stem Cell Differentiation and Disease ApplicationsView all articles
"Armed in-vitro retina"-generating microglial retinal organoids, where are we now?
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- 2School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- 3Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
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The objective of organoid research is to develop in vitro models that accurately replicate the microenvironment of tissues and organs in vivo. Although techniques for culturing retinal organoids (ROs) have advanced significantly, they still fall short of incorporating all cell types necessary for maintaining retinal homeostasis, particularly immune cells like microglia. Standardizing the inclusion of immune cells in RO cultures would greatly enhance research into the mechanisms underlying retinal diseases and the discovery of therapeutic targets. This review examines recent advancements in co-culturing ROs with immune cells to mimic the physiological and pathological microenvironments of the retina, focusing on tissue structure and function. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of cutting-edge organoid technologies, such as microfluidics and organ-on-chip systems, in propelling research in this field. The goal is to equip researchers with a more profound understanding of microglial ROs and their potential applications in scientific investigations.
Keywords: retinal organoids, Immune Privilege, Co-culture with immune cells, Microglia, personalized treatment
Received: 10 Feb 2025; Accepted: 21 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Liu, Gao, Chen, Yan, Ye and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Zi Ye, Department of Ophthalmology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
Zhaohui Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.