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University of Basel Engineers First All-Human Bone Marrow Model That Sustains Blood Production

By recreating the endosteal niche, the lab-grown 'blood factory' offers a human-specific platform for research and drug testing.

Overview

  • Published on November 18 in Cell Stem Cell, the study details a three-dimensional bone marrow construct composed entirely of human cells.
  • The system is built on a hydroxyapatite bone scaffold seeded with reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells that are directed to form diverse marrow cell types.
  • Analyses show the model closely matches the human endosteal niche and maintains hematopoiesis in vitro for weeks.
  • The construct measures roughly 8 millimeters in diameter and 4 millimeters in thickness, exceeding the size of prior in vitro marrow systems and offering a potential complement to some animal studies.
  • The team highlights prospects for drug screening and patient-tailored models, noting that miniaturization and further validation are necessary for high-throughput or clinical use.