Trophoblast organoids or mini-placentas are cultured from stem cells of early human placenta and resemble normal first trimester placentas. We will use organoids as tools in medical research and explore the effect of very early environmental exposure on placental stem cells and development of organoids. We collect the stem cells of early alcohol-exposed and unexposed control placentas from elective terminations and study the effects of alcohol on transcriptome, epigenome, metabolome and structure of organoids. Comparing the organoids to both early and fulltime placental tissue we will find out the correspondence of alterations in real tissue as well as stability of the changes. Furthermore, we will examine the use of organoids in toxicological testing. By comparing organoids, which are cultured from in vitro alcohol-exposed stem cells to the organoids derived from in vivo-exposed stem cells, it is possible to demonstrate how well in vitro-exposed organoids mimic real-life exposures.

2020

2024