Standardization and Maintenance of 3D Canine Hepatic and Intestinal Organoid Cultures for Use in Biomedical Research

Abstract

Dogs develop complex multifactorial diseases analogous to humans, including inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer. Therefore, they represent relevant large animal models with the translational potential to human medicine. Organoids are 3-dimensional (3D), self-assembled structures derived from stem cells that mimic the microanatomy and physiology of their organ of origin. These translational in vitro models can be used for drug permeability and discovery applications, toxicology assessment, and to provide a mechanistic understanding of the pathophysiology of multifactorial chronic diseases. Furthermore, canine organoids can enhance the lives of companion dogs, providing input in various areas of veterinary research and facilitating personalized treatment applications in veterinary medicine. A small group of donors can create a biobank of organoid samples, reducing the need for continuous tissue harvesting, as organoid cell lines can be sub-cultured indefinitely. Herein, three protocols that focus on the culture of intestinal and hepatic canine organoids derived from adult stem cells are presented. The Canine Organoid Isolation Protocol outlines methods to process tissue and embedding of the cell isolate in a supportive matrix (solubilized extracellular membrane matrix). The Canine Organoid Maintenance Protocol describes organoid growth and maintenance, including cleaning and passaging along with appropriate timing for expansion. The Organoid Harvesting and Biobanking Protocol describes ways to extract, freeze, and preserve organoids for further analysis.