Defined serum-free culture of human infant small intestinal organoids with predetermined doses of Wnt3a and R-spondin1 from surgical specimens

Purpose: Refinement of organoid technology is important for studying physiology and disease of the intestine. We aimed to optimize defined serum-free conditions for human infant small intestinal (SI) organoid culture with predetermined doses of Wnt3a and Rspo1 from surgical specimens. We further assessed whether intestinal specimens could be stored before use as a source of organoids.

Methods: Different doses of Wnt3a and Rspo1 in a serum-free medium were tested to establish a condition in which surgically resected SI cells grew as organoids over multiple passages. The expression of marker genes for stem and differentiated cells was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We also investigated the organoid-forming efficiency of cells in degenerating intestines stored at 4 °C for various intervals post-resection.

Results: We determined the doses of Wnt3a and Rspo1 required for the continuous growth of infant SI organoids with multi-differentiation potential. We revealed that, despite the time-dependent loss of stem cells, tissues stored for up to 2 days preserved cells capable of generating amplifiable organoids.

Conclusion: SI cells can be grown as organoids under defined conditions. This could provide a reproducible and customizable method of using surgical specimens for the study of intestinal maturation and their relevance to pediatric diseases.