Researchers Develop Grading System for Developmental Process in Tissue-engineered Small Intestine

Article title: Grading TESI: Crypt and villus formation in tissue-engineered small intestine alters with stem/progenitor cell source

Authors: Elizabeth A. Gilliam, Christopher R. Schlieve, Kathryn L. Fowler, Jessica N. Rea, Kathy A. Schall, Sha Huang, Jason R. Spence, Tracy C. Grikscheit

From the authors: “The small intestine can enhance its absorptive and digestive surface area through a process known as villification. Tissue-engineered small intestine achieves mature villification at varying levels of success between differing sources. We have developed a consistent grading schema of morphology and characterized it across multiple developmental pathways, allowing objective comparison between differing constructs and sources.” 

This study is highlighted as one of September’s “best of the best” as part of the American Physiological Society’s APSselect program.