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Iltis AS, Koster G, Reeves E, Matthews KRW. Ethical, legal, regulatory, and policy issues concerning embryoids: a systematic review of the literature. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:209. [PMID: 37605210 PMCID: PMC10441753 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03448-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in methods to culture pluripotent stem cells to model human development have resulted in entities that increasingly have recapitulated advanced stages of early embryo development. These entities, referred to by numerous terms such as embryoids, are becoming more sophisticated and could resemble human embryos ever more closely as research progresses. This paper reports a systematic review of the ethical, legal, regulatory, and policy questions and concerns found in the literature concerning human embryoid research published from 2016 to 2022. We identified 56 papers that use 53 distinct names or terms to refer to embryoids and four broad categories of ethical, legal, regulatory, or policy considerations in the literature: research justifications/benefits, ethical significance or moral status, permissible use, and regulatory and oversight challenges. Analyzing the full range of issues is a critical step toward fostering more robust ethical, legal, and social implications research in this emerging area and toward developing appropriate oversight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Iltis
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society and Department of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Grace Koster
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society and Department of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Emily Reeves
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society and Department of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
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Blackiston D, Kriegman S, Bongard J, Levin M. Biological Robots: Perspectives on an Emerging Interdisciplinary Field. Soft Robot 2023; 10:674-686. [PMID: 37083430 PMCID: PMC10442684 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2022.0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in science and engineering often reveal the limitations of classical approaches initially used to understand, predict, and control phenomena. With progress, conceptual categories must often be re-evaluated to better track recently discovered invariants across disciplines. It is essential to refine frameworks and resolve conflicting boundaries between disciplines such that they better facilitate, not restrict, experimental approaches and capabilities. In this essay, we address specific questions and critiques which have arisen in response to our research program, which lies at the intersection of developmental biology, computer science, and robotics. In the context of biological machines and robots, we explore changes across concepts and previously distinct fields that are driven by recent advances in materials, information, and life sciences. Herein, each author provides their own perspective on the subject, framed by their own disciplinary training. We argue that as with computation, certain aspects of developmental biology and robotics are not tied to specific materials; rather, the consilience of these fields can help to shed light on issues of multiscale control, self-assembly, and relationships between form and function. We hope new fields can emerge as boundaries arising from technological limitations are overcome, furthering practical applications from regenerative medicine to useful synthetic living machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Blackiston
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
| | - Sam Kriegman
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
- Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Josh Bongard
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
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Tozzi A, Mariniello L. Unusual Mathematical Approaches Untangle Nervous Dynamics. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102581. [PMID: 36289843 PMCID: PMC9599563 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The massive amount of available neurodata suggests the existence of a mathematical backbone underlying neuronal oscillatory activities. For example, geometric constraints are powerful enough to define cellular distribution and drive the embryonal development of the central nervous system. We aim to elucidate whether underrated notions from geometry, topology, group theory and category theory can assess neuronal issues and provide experimentally testable hypotheses. The Monge’s theorem might contribute to our visual ability of depth perception and the brain connectome can be tackled in terms of tunnelling nanotubes. The multisynaptic ascending fibers connecting the peripheral receptors to the neocortical areas can be assessed in terms of knot theory/braid groups. Presheaves from category theory permit the tackling of nervous phase spaces in terms of the theory of infinity categories, highlighting an approach based on equivalence rather than equality. Further, the physical concepts of soft-matter polymers and nematic colloids might shed new light on neurulation in mammalian embryos. Hidden, unexpected multidisciplinary relationships can be found when mathematics copes with neural phenomena, leading to novel answers for everlasting neuroscientific questions. For instance, our framework leads to the conjecture that the development of the nervous system might be correlated with the occurrence of local thermal changes in embryo–fetal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Tozzi
- Center for Nonlinear Science, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Lucio Mariniello
- Department of Pediatrics, University Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Thompson RE, Bouma GJ, Hollinshead FK. The Roles of Extracellular Vesicles and Organoid Models in Female Reproductive Physiology. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063186. [PMID: 35328607 PMCID: PMC8954697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Culture model systems that can recapitulate the anatomy and physiology of reproductive organs, such as three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture systems, limit the cost and welfare concerns associated with a research animal colony and provide alternative approaches to study specific processes in humans and animals. These 3D models facilitate a greater understanding of the physiological role of individual cell types and their interactions than can be accomplished with traditional monolayer culture systems. Furthermore, 3D culture systems allow for the examination of specific cellular, molecular, or hormonal interactions, without confounding factors that occur with in vivo models, and provide a powerful approach to study physiological and pathological reproductive conditions. The goal of this paper is to review and compare organoid culture systems to other in vitro cell culture models, currently used to study female reproductive physiology, with an emphasis on the role of extracellular vesicle interactions. The critical role of extracellular vesicles for intercellular communication in physiological processes, including reproduction, has been well documented, and an overview of the roles of extracellular vesicles in organoid systems will be provided. Finally, we will propose future directions for understanding the role of extracellular vesicles in normal and pathological conditions of reproductive organs, utilizing 3D organoid culture systems.
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Abstract
Increased control of biological growth and form is an essential gateway to transformative medical advances. Repairing of birth defects, restoring lost or damaged organs, normalizing tumors, all depend on understanding how cells cooperate to make specific, functional large-scale structures. Despite advances in molecular genetics, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the meso-scale rules of morphogenesis. An engineering approach to this problem is the creation of novel synthetic living forms, greatly extending available model systems beyond evolved plant and animal lineages. Here, we review recent advances in the emerging field of synthetic morphogenesis, the bioengineering of novel multicellular living bodies. Emphasizing emergent self-organization, tissue-level guided self-assembly, and active functionality, this work is the essential next generation of synthetic biology. Aside from useful living machines for specific functions, the rational design and analysis of new, coherent anatomies will greatly increase our understanding of foundational questions in evolutionary developmental and cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo R. Ebrahimkhani
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, A809B Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4600, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
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Tomoda K, Hu H, Sahara Y, Sanyal H, Takasato M, Kime C. Reprogramming epiblast stem cells into pre-implantation blastocyst cell-like cells. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1197-1209. [PMID: 33891866 PMCID: PMC8185450 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a new wave of synthetic embryo systems (SESs) has been established from cultured cells for efficient and ethical embryonic development research. We recently reported our epiblast stem cell (EPISC) reprogramming SES that generates numerous blastocyst (BC)-like hemispheres (BCLH) with pluripotent and extraembryonic cell features detected by microscopy. Here, we further explored the system over key time points with single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis. We found broad induction of the 2C-like reporter MERVL and RNA velocities diverging to three major cell populations with gene expression profiles resembling those of pluripotent epiblast, primitive endoderm, and trophectoderm. Enrichment of those three induced BC-like cell fates involved key gene-regulatory networks, zygotic genome activation-related genes, and specific RNA splicing, and many cells closely resembled in silico models. This analysis confirms the induction of extraembryonic cell populations during EPISC reprogramming. We anticipate that our unique BCLH SES and rich dataset may uncover new facets of cell potency, improve developmental biology, and advance biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiichiro Tomoda
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Osaka Medical College, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Haiming Hu
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Sahara
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan; Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Development, Department of Animal Development and Physiology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Department of Renal and Cardiovascular Research, New Drug Research Division, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokushima 771-0192, Japan
| | - Hashimita Sanyal
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Minoru Takasato
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan; Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology and Development, Department of Animal Development and Physiology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Cody Kime
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
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Ikeya M, Toyooka Y, Eiraku M. Pluripotent stem cells in developmental biology (part 2). Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:103. [PMID: 33666222 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Ikeya
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yayoi Toyooka
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mototsugu Eiraku
- Laboratory of Developmental Systems, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Institute for Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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