Groundbreaking: Dresden team develops modular 3D model of the human liver
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics have created a three-dimensional organoid model from the patient’s own liver tissue for the first time. The model consists of three cell types – adult hepatocytes, cholangiocytes and mesenchymal liver cells – and reconstructs the periportal liver region with its structural and functional features.
The so-called assembloids imitate liver functions such as detoxification and drug metabolism in the petri dish. Through targeted manipulation, features of bile-induced fibrosis can be replicated, facilitating research into liver disease, accelerating drug development, and promoting personalized approaches.
Previous models were limited to one cell type and could not map the complex cell interaction. The study, published in Nature, is based on collaborations with clinics in Dresden and Leipzig as well as international partners. A biobank with organoids from 28 patients enables further applications in diagnostics and toxicity testing.
Original Paper:
Lei Yuan, Sagarika Dawka, Yohan Kim, Anke Liebert, Fabian Rost, Robert Arnes-Benito, Franziska Baenke, Christina Götz, David Long Hin Tsang, Andrea Schuhmann, Anna Shevchenko, Roberta Rezende de Castro, Seunghee Kim, Aleksandra Sljukic, Anna M. Dowbaj, Andrej Shevchenko, Daniel Seehofer, Dongho Choi, Georg Damm, Daniel E. Stange, Meritxell Huch: Human assembloids recapitulate periportal liver tissue in vitro. Nature, December 17, 2025, doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09884-1
Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR
Gender Notice. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple naming and gendered designations are used for better readability. ected.
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