Li Peilin, Huang Di, Gu Weili, Gao Yi, Huang Yu
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Zhujiang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou China.
Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Organ and Tissue Bioengineered, Guangzhou Clinical Research and Transformation Center for Artificial Liver Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University Guangzhou China.
JGH Open. 2025 Aug 12;9(8):e70254. doi: 10.1002/jgh3.70254. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Bioengineered tubular bile ducts are an emerging strategy in liver regenerative medicine and extrahepatic bile duct reconstruction, offering potential solutions to address biliary diseases and improve outcomes in liver transplantation. Disorders of the biliary system, such as biliary atresia, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and bile duct injury, often result in irreversible damage and cannot be adequately treated with conventional therapies. This review explores the latest advancements in the bioengineering of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, focusing on approaches that leverage cholangiocyte biology, stem cell technologies, and biomaterial innovations. Key cell sources, including primary cholangiocytes, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), liver progenitor cells (LPCs), and transdifferentiated hepatocytes, are discussed for their potential to generate functional bile duct epithelial cells capable of restoring biliary function. The role of biomaterials in providing structural support and promoting cellular growth and differentiation is critically examined, emphasizing synthetic and natural scaffolds, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and collagen-based materials, for creating viable tubular structures. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current progress and challenges in bioengineered bile duct tissue, focusing on the goals of enhancing liver regeneration and enabling extrahepatic bile duct reconstruction for clinical applications. Integrating cellular, biomaterial, and bioengineered strategies offers promising avenues for advancing treatments for biliary diseases and improving liver transplantation outcomes.
生物工程化胆管是肝脏再生医学和肝外胆管重建领域中一种新兴的策略，为解决胆道疾病和改善肝移植结局提供了潜在的解决方案。胆道系统疾病，如胆道闭锁、原发性硬化性胆管炎和胆管损伤，常常导致不可逆的损害，且传统疗法无法对其进行充分治疗。本综述探讨了肝内和肝外胆管生物工程的最新进展，重点关注利用胆管细胞生物学、干细胞技术和生物材料创新的方法。讨论了关键细胞来源，包括原代胆管细胞、诱导多能干细胞（iPSC）、肝祖细胞（LPC）和转分化肝细胞，它们具有生成能够恢复胆管功能的功能性胆管上皮细胞的潜力。批判性地审视了生物材料在提供结构支持以及促进细胞生长和分化方面的作用，强调了合成支架和天然支架，如聚乳酸（PLA）和基于胶原蛋白的材料，用于构建有活力的管状结构。本综述全面概述了生物工程化胆管组织的当前进展和挑战，重点关注增强肝脏再生以及实现用于临床应用的肝外胆管重建的目标。整合细胞、生物材料和生物工程策略为推进胆道疾病治疗和改善肝移植结局提供了有前景的途径。
