Abstract

Hepato-biliary organoids have proven to be powerful tools in the study of development, disease and tissue regeneration. Over the last decade, significant progress has been made in the culture and characterization of human epithelial stem cells, cultured as three-dimensional (3D) liver and bile duct organoids. Hepato-biliary organoids can be generated from multiple sources of fetal and adult primary tissue, and also from primary and metastatic tumors of the liver and biliary tree. Organoid applications are many, ranging from basic research to regenerative medicine. Machine perfusion of liver grafts or decellularized scaffolds of liver and bile ducts could provide an excellent setting for regenerative medicine applications of human liver organoids.