Human intestinal organoids can accurately mimic the structure and function of the human intestine, making them an ideal platform for studying the early stages of organ development. The KRIBB research team not only developed the platform but also utilized it to discover a new probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri DS0384, which has shown remarkable potential in promoting gut development and preventing diseases.
Notably, this innovative research has been transferred by KRIBB to KGC, a leading ginseng company in South Korea, and is currently in preparation for commercialization. Through this, the technology is expanding its applicability to consumer-oriented functional health foods, such as products promoting infant gut development and preventing inflammatory bowel diseases.
Key findings and advantages of the intestinal organoid platform KRIBB’s research revealed several remarkable benefits of the L. reuteri DS0384 strain:
- Promotion of gut development: This strain promotes the maturation and development of intestinal organoids, showing superior effects compared to other existing probiotics.
- Enhanced acid resistance: It exhibits high acid resistance, enabling it to survive the digestive process and effectively colonize the gut.
- Stem cell activation: It promotes the proliferation of intestinal stem cells, playing a crucial role in gut regeneration and maintenance.
- Protection against inflammatory diseases: It demonstrates protective effects against colitis and inflammatory bowel diseases, confirming its potential for treatment and prevention.
Possibility for precise research on diverse cell types
This platform (KRIBB and Organoid Sciences, pending deletion) goes beyond being a tool for efficacy verification and has established itself as a tool for precisely defining the characteristics and roles of various intestinal cell types. For example, it allows for the accurate differentiation and observation of cell types such as Paneth cells, intestinal stem cells, goblet cells involved in mucus layer formation, and differentiated enterocytes. These cells are identified by markers such as DEFA5, OLFM4, MUC13, and KRT20, which serve as useful indicators for evaluating the maturity and differentiation status of cells in intestinal organoid research.