Poster Presentation ASSCR, AGCTS, ISCT ANZ and Friends Joint Scientific Conference 2019

Using intestinal organoids to analyse stem cell function in inflammatory bowel disease   (#116)

Eva Chan 1 2 , Thierry Jarde 1 2 3 , Rebekah Engel 1 2 4 , Genevieve Kerr 1 2 , Christian Nefzger 1 2 5 , Edward Giles 6 7 , Samuel Forster 7 , Helen Abud 1 2
  1. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton , VIC 3800, Australia
  2. Stem Cells and Development Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton , VIC 3800, Australia
  3. Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton , VIC 3168 , Australia
  4. Cabrini Monash University Department of Surgery, Cabrini Hospital, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern, VIC 3144, Australia
  5. Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
  6. Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
  7. Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases , Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton , VIC 3168, Australia

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) currently affects more than 75,000 individuals in Australia with a total estimated cost of care exceeding $3billion. This multifactorial disease is characterised by inflammation occurring through the gastrointestinal tract. However, the underlying mechanisms of disease are yet to be elucidated and no cures are currently available. We aim to identify differences in intestinal stem cell populations by utilising the organoid culturing system to grow intestinal cells combined with anaerobic culturing to characterise the bacteria from human paediatric intestinal biopsies obtained from patients with or without IBD. We are currently recruiting and have established 39 human paediatric small intestinal organoid lines. Transcriptional analysis will allow us to define the stem cell signature of IBD-derived organoids, compared to controls. Staining of organoid sections for intestinal stem cell markers will allow us to study the localisation of these markers further. We will also examine the impact of bacterial populations on stem cell function. By doing so, this study will provide insights into the effects of IBD on intestinal epithelium and allow us to further interrogate whether stem cell function is compromised in IBD.

  • Have you presented your abstract at another international meeting?: No