Tissue-engineered intestine to make organ transplants history!

Washington, July 6 (ANI): Scientists have created a tissue-engineered intestine comprised of the layers of the various cells that make up the functional intestine in a mouse model-a discovery which may someday lead to answers for babies with a life-threatening gastrointestinal condition.

Infants born prematurely are at increased risk for a gastrointestinal disease called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which occurs when the intestine is injured.

Early treatment of NEC is essential to stop the potentially life-threatening leakage of bacteria into the abdomen. Often, the only solution is surgical removal of the small intestine.

Organ transplants are possible but not a long-term solution, with only a 50 percent chance the grafted intestine will last past the child's 5th birthday.

Study's lead author Tracy C. Grikscheit, MD, envisions a better solution.

"The small intestine is an exquisitely regenerative organ. The cells are constantly being lost and replaced over the course of our entire lives," she explained. "Why not harness that regenerative capacity to benefit these children?"

"What is novel about this research is that this tissue-engineered intestine contains every important cell type needed for functional intestine," said Henri Ford, MD, Vice President and Surgeon-in-Chief at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

"For children with intestinal failure, we are always looking for long-term, durable solutions that will not require the administration of toxic drugs to ensure engraftment.

"This tissue-engineered intestine, which has all of the critical components of the mature intestine, represents a truly exciting albeit preliminary step in the right direction," he added.

The study was recently published in Tissue Engineering Part A, a premier biomedical journal. (ANI)