Organs contain fluid-filled spaces known as lumens, which are essential for their function. In the pancreas, these lumens form a ductal system that transports digestive enzymes to the small intestine. The process by which these complex structures develop during embryonic growth is not fully understood, especially since most previous research has focused on simpler spherical lumens.
A recent study led by Anne Grapin-Botton at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden, Germany, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Tokyo, Academia Sinica in Taiwan, and Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire in France, examined how complex lumen shapes form using organoid models. These models more closely resemble real organs and can display a variety of lumen shapes.
The team combined computational modeling with experimental work to identify key factors influencing lumen formation. Kana Fuji, a doctoral student involved in the research, stated: "Our model can measure and predict which parameters account for the transitions of the lumen shapes, enabling feedback into the experiments themselves." The group used mathematical simulations alongside laboratory experiments to study how cell growth and division impact lumen development.
Anne Grapin-Botton explained: "Our study shows that the shape and structure of the lumen in pancreatic organoids depend on three main factors: how fast cells proliferate, the pressure inside the lumen, and how permeable the cells around the lumen are. This discovery could help us understand how other organs with narrow interconnected ducts develop and how common cystic diseases affect them. Our model system could further research in the field of organ development and tissue engineering and also potentially be used to test how different drugs affect diseases, which could lead to new treatments. This could help us better understand and treat diseases that affect the pancreas and other organs with branching ducts."
