Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease with a high global prevalence, which affects blood vessels throughout the entire body. As the disease progresses, it often leads to complications, including diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. Currently, in addition to traditional cellular and animal models...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyu Xu, Yunqi Zhang, Yifei Geng, Yun Luo, Xiaobo Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1650200/full
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author Xiaoyu Xu
Xiaoyu Xu
Xiaoyu Xu
Yunqi Zhang
Yunqi Zhang
Yunqi Zhang
Yifei Geng
Yifei Geng
Yifei Geng
Yun Luo
Yun Luo
Yun Luo
Xiaobo Sun
Xiaobo Sun
Xiaobo Sun
author_facet Xiaoyu Xu
Xiaoyu Xu
Xiaoyu Xu
Yunqi Zhang
Yunqi Zhang
Yunqi Zhang
Yifei Geng
Yifei Geng
Yifei Geng
Yun Luo
Yun Luo
Yun Luo
Xiaobo Sun
Xiaobo Sun
Xiaobo Sun
author_sort Xiaoyu Xu
collection DOAJ
description Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease with a high global prevalence, which affects blood vessels throughout the entire body. As the disease progresses, it often leads to complications, including diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. Currently, in addition to traditional cellular and animal models, more and more organoid models have been used in the study of diabetes and have broad application prospects in the field of pharmacological research. We summarized the organoid models that have been developed for the study of diabetes mellitus and its complications, and describe their sources, establishment and maturation measures with a focus on pancreatic organoids. For the first time, we summarized the contribution of organoids in diabetes and its complications in terms of mechanism studies, drug screening, and cellular replacement therapies, in the hope of providing a feasible direction for personalized medicine and precision treatment of diabetes and its complications. In addition, we discuss the strengths and limitations of organoids in the field of diabetes and its complications. Nowadays, people strongly advocate personalized medicine and precision medicine, and in this regard, organoid technology has advantages that are unmatched by any conventional experimental models. By combing organoid technology with high-throughput technologies, “patient-specific” drug screening can be achieved faster and more accurately. Organoids are also becoming a potential source of transplantable tissues and functional cell types for cellular replacement therapies in regenerative medicine. With further development of assembly and vascularization techniques, organoids will gradually mature and improve. In conclusion, the 3D organoid system greatly complements the existing modeling system and may play a significant role in future basic and clinical research.
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spelling doaj-art-e192a714cfec4baa8275836e65d6c81c2025-08-25T05:25:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-08-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16502001650200Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complicationsXiaoyu Xu0Xiaoyu Xu1Xiaoyu Xu2Yunqi Zhang3Yunqi Zhang4Yunqi Zhang5Yifei Geng6Yifei Geng7Yifei Geng8Yun Luo9Yun Luo10Yun Luo11Xiaobo Sun12Xiaobo Sun13Xiaobo Sun14State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, ChinaDiabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease with a high global prevalence, which affects blood vessels throughout the entire body. As the disease progresses, it often leads to complications, including diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. Currently, in addition to traditional cellular and animal models, more and more organoid models have been used in the study of diabetes and have broad application prospects in the field of pharmacological research. We summarized the organoid models that have been developed for the study of diabetes mellitus and its complications, and describe their sources, establishment and maturation measures with a focus on pancreatic organoids. For the first time, we summarized the contribution of organoids in diabetes and its complications in terms of mechanism studies, drug screening, and cellular replacement therapies, in the hope of providing a feasible direction for personalized medicine and precision treatment of diabetes and its complications. In addition, we discuss the strengths and limitations of organoids in the field of diabetes and its complications. Nowadays, people strongly advocate personalized medicine and precision medicine, and in this regard, organoid technology has advantages that are unmatched by any conventional experimental models. By combing organoid technology with high-throughput technologies, “patient-specific” drug screening can be achieved faster and more accurately. Organoids are also becoming a potential source of transplantable tissues and functional cell types for cellular replacement therapies in regenerative medicine. With further development of assembly and vascularization techniques, organoids will gradually mature and improve. In conclusion, the 3D organoid system greatly complements the existing modeling system and may play a significant role in future basic and clinical research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1650200/fulldiabetesdiabetic complicationsorganoidmechanisms researchdrug screeningprecision treatment
spellingShingle Xiaoyu Xu
Xiaoyu Xu
Xiaoyu Xu
Yunqi Zhang
Yunqi Zhang
Yunqi Zhang
Yifei Geng
Yifei Geng
Yifei Geng
Yun Luo
Yun Luo
Yun Luo
Xiaobo Sun
Xiaobo Sun
Xiaobo Sun
Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications
Frontiers in Pharmacology
diabetes
diabetic complications
organoid
mechanisms research
drug screening
precision treatment
title Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications
title_full Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications
title_fullStr Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications
title_full_unstemmed Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications
title_short Organoids: their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications
title_sort organoids their emerging essential role in pathological mechanisms and drug discovery of diabetes and its complications
topic diabetes
diabetic complications
organoid
mechanisms research
drug screening
precision treatment
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1650200/full
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