Tissue Spatial Omics Dissects Organoid Biomimicry

Abstract

Recently, organoids, or three-dimensional (3D) cellular assemblies, have demonstrated promise as viable models for organ development and disease study. In contrast to challenging preclinical models, organoids are advantageous due to rapid fabrication times and greater patient specificity. The advent of spatial transcriptomics and single cell technologies has also enhanced the characterization of intraorganoid heterogeneity, thus highlighting 3D cell signaling and organ development at micro scales. In this study, we describe ongoing and future directions in spatial omics integrated with various imaging technologies for two-dimensional/3D organoid characterization. Utilizing both retinal organoids and native retinal tissues, we undertook an analysis to deconstruct the cellular compositions and structural attributes of their respective cell layers. Our findings indicate that the spatial organization of cell phenotypes is similar between organoids and native retinal tissue. However, it is noteworthy that native retinal tissue possesses thinner yet distinctly separated cell layers compared with the organoids.