title: Primary Human Testicular Cells Self-Organize into Organoids with Testicular Properties.
abstract: So far, successful de novo formation of testicular tissue followed by complete spermatogenesis in vitro has been achieved only in rodents. Our findings reveal that primary human testicular cells are able to self-organize into human testicular organoids (TOs), i.e., multi-cellular tissue surrogates, either with or without support of a biological scaffold. Despite lacking testis-specific topography, these mini-tissues harbored spermatogonia and their important niche cells, which retained specific functionalities during long-term culture. These observations indicate the posibility of in vitro re-engineering of a human testicular microenvironment from primary cells. Human TOs might help in the development of a biomimetic testicular model that would exert a tremendous impact on research and development, clinical treatment of infertility, and screening in connection with drug discovery and toxicology.
authors.affiliation: Biology of the Testis, Research Laboratory for Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: yoni.baert@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Yoni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Center for Pharmaceutical Research, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Kock
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Unit; Q2:08, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: João P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Alves-Lopes
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Unit; Q2:08, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Söder
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Unit; Q2:08, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan-Bernd
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stukenborg
authors.affiliation: Biology of the Testis, Research Laboratory for Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goossens
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D038081:Organogenesis; D009940:Organoids; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D055153:Stem Cell Niche; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D006728:Hormones
keywords: immunofluorescence; inhibin B; in vitro spermatogenesis; organoid; scaffold; secretome; spermatogonia; testis; testosterone; whole mount