Free-Floating Human Lung Organoids Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Abstract

Lung diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the global burden of these respiratory diseases continues to increase. Therefore, there is a need for accurate models for basic and translational research. In addition to animal models, the development of alternative in vitro model systems is progressing rapidly, ranging from advanced lung cell cultures to complex tissue-engineered lungs. Human lung organoids have become easily transferable three-dimensional in vitro model systems for lung disease modeling. Here, we present a detailed protocol for a rather simple and therefore very practical but reliable method to generate lung organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) without relying on a matrix, which would represent a step forward toward animal-origin and/or component-free in vitro modeling.