Fernandes Tiago G
Department of Bioengineering and iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Front Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Aug 25;11:1268540. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1268540. eCollection 2023.
Organoids are three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells that mimic the organization and function of specific organs, making them valuable tools for studying complex systems in biology. This paper explores the application of complex systems theory to understand and characterize organoids as exemplars of intricate biological systems. By identifying and analyzing common design principles observed across diverse natural, technological, and social complex systems, we can gain insights into the underlying mechanisms governing organoid behavior and function. This review outlines general design principles found in complex systems and demonstrates how these principles manifest within organoids. By acknowledging organoids as representations of complex systems, we can illuminate our understanding of their normal physiological behavior and gain valuable insights into the alterations that can lead to disease. Therefore, incorporating complex systems theory into the study of organoids may foster novel perspectives in biology and pave the way for new avenues of research and therapeutic interventions to improve human health and wellbeing.
类器官是源自干细胞的三维结构，可模拟特定器官的组织和功能，使其成为研究生物学复杂系统的宝贵工具。本文探讨了复杂系统理论的应用，以将类器官理解和表征为复杂生物系统的范例。通过识别和分析在各种自然、技术和社会复杂系统中观察到的共同设计原则，我们可以深入了解控制类器官行为和功能的潜在机制。本综述概述了复杂系统中发现的一般设计原则，并展示了这些原则在类器官中的表现方式。通过将类器官视为复杂系统的代表，我们可以阐明对其正常生理行为的理解，并深入了解可能导致疾病的变化。因此，将复杂系统理论纳入类器官研究可能会在生物学中催生新的观点，并为改善人类健康和福祉的新研究途径和治疗干预措施铺平道路。
