三维细胞培养技术的研究与应用

Advances in Application of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture

单层细胞培养由于细胞在体外改变的环境下增生逐渐丧失了原有的性状,往往和体内情况不相符;动物实验虽在体内进行,但体内多种因素制约以及体内和外界环境相互影响而不能观察到研究者最为关心的中间过程。三维细胞培养技术模拟体内的微环境,填补了单层细胞培养和动物实验的鸿沟。文章重点阐述了该技术在医学领域的广泛运用,介绍了新近建立的三维培养系统。用人工脉管取代细胞外基质生长支架,在完全可控制的生长条件下,肾干细胞能分化产生结构完整的肾小管,在肾的发育生物学研究和组织工程领域作出了独特贡献。

Cells lose many of their properties after monolayer culture because of their continuous proliferation in the in vitro environment. Thus, in many cases the study results can not reflect the corresponding in vivo conditions. With animal tests, because the phenotypes are actually determined by the interactions between in vivo factors and external environment, many intermediate events are ommited. The three-dimensional cell culture （TDCC） can bridge the gap between monolayer cell culture and animal experiment. We developed a novel TDCC system, which uses artificial interstitium instead of extracellular matrix to simulate the microenvironment in vivo. It enables renal stem cells to regenerate the structurally complete tubules in vitro under the absolutely controllable growth conditions. TDCC can serve as a powerful tool for tissue engineering.