Liver organoids: a novel platform for mechanistic research and drug screening in anti-liver fibrosis.
4 affiliations
- 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research on Emergency in TCM, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 555 Neihuanxi Road, High Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- 2Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
- 3Chinese Medicine Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, 519060, China.
- 4Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research on Emergency in TCM, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 555 Neihuanxi Road, High Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 510006, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a common and pivotal pathological stage in the progression of various chronic liver diseases, characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) due to aberrant activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Traditional research models are limited by species differences and oversimplified microenvironments, failing to meet the demands of precision medicine. Organoid technology, as an emerging three-dimensional (3D) culture system, can closely recapitulate the structural and functional complexity of the human liver, providing a revolutionary tool for HF research. This review systematically summarized the construction strategies and applications of HF organoids. Firstly, the key components and dynamic changes in the HF microenvironment were analyzed. Secondly, organoids derived from primary cells versus stem cells were compared. Thirdly, the methods for constructing fibrotic organoids via cytokine induction, pathological simulation, and genetic engineering were elaborated. Finally, the value and challenges of these models in mechanistic studies, drug screening, and regenerative medicine were discussed. Evidence indicated that multilineage liver organoids can recapitulate the complex interaction network of "hepatocytes-non-parenchymal cells-ECM", providing a highly physiologically relevant platform for elucidating fibrosis mechanisms and developing targeted drugs. Although further optimization in maturation and standardization is needed, HF organoid technology holds great potential to bridge basic research and clinical translation, thereby accelerating the innovation of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HF.
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BibTeX
@article{shen2026liver,
title = {{Liver organoids: a novel platform for mechanistic research and drug screening in anti-liver fibrosis.}},
author = {Dongning Shen and Shouhai Wu and Xinhao Xue and Menglin Huang and Chunhe Wei and Ting Fu and Fan Wu and Bo Liu and Fangfang Xu},
journal = {Stem cell research \& therapy},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s13287-026-05208-w},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972431},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Liver organoids: a novel platform for mechanistic research and drug screening in anti-liver fibrosis.
AU - Dongning Shen
AU - Shouhai Wu
AU - Xinhao Xue
AU - Menglin Huang
AU - Chunhe Wei
AU - Ting Fu
AU - Fan Wu
AU - Bo Liu
AU - Fangfang Xu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - Stem cell research & therapy
DO - 10.1186/s13287-026-05208-w
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972431
AB - Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a common and pivotal pathological stage in the progression of various chronic liver diseases, characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) due to aberrant activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Traditional research models are limited by species differences and oversimplified microenvironments, failing to meet the demands of precision medicine. Organoid technology, as an emerging three-dimensional (3D) culture system, can closely recapitulate the structural and functional complexity of the human liver, providing a revolutionary tool for HF research. This review systematically summarized the construction strategies and applications of HF organoids. Firstly, the key components and dynamic changes in the HF microenvironment were analyzed. Secondly, organoids derived from primary cells versus stem cells were compared. Thirdly, the methods for constructing fibrotic organoids via cytokine induction, pathological simulation, and genetic engineering were elaborated. Finally, the value and challenges of these models in mechanistic studies, drug screening, and regenerative medicine were discussed. Evidence indicated that multilineage liver organoids can recapitulate the complex interaction network of "hepatocytes-non-parenchymal cells-ECM", providing a highly physiologically relevant platform for elucidating fibrosis mechanisms and developing targeted drugs. Although further optimization in maturation and standardization is needed, HF organoid technology holds great potential to bridge basic research and clinical translation, thereby accelerating the innovation of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HF.
SN - 1757-6512
ER -