{“type”:”block”,”srcClientIds”:[“ffb5640d-4dfa-4381-a06f-55617bc9d98e”],”srcRootClientId”:””}human blood vessels were successfully cultivated as “organoids” from stem cells in the lab. Organoids are three-dimensional, lab-grown cellular systems that mimic real human organs or human tissue characteristics. The vascular organoids form a perfect testing ground for vascular diseases such as diabetes, having allowed identifying a key inhibitor of enzyme γ-secretase, that could prevent detrimental changes to blood vessels, a key cause of morbidity among diabetic patients.
This stem cell-based technology could have farther-reaching implications, and could potentially allow unravelling the causes and treatments for a variety of vascular diseases, from Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, wound healing problems, stroke, cancer and, of course, diabetes.