Human branching cholangiocyte organoids recapitulate embryogenic bile duct development and provide an unique model to study biliary diseases. RNA-Seq

Although providing promising and unique tools for studying cholangiocytes, current tissue-derived cholangiocyte-organoid systems do not recapitulate the complex architecture of the intrahepatic bile ducts in vitro. Here, we report a new method for creating branching cholangiocyte organoids (BRCO) from human adult tissue to study the intrahepatic biliary tree and diseases. BRCOs self-organize into large complex tubular structures, while closely resembling primary cholangiocytes on a transcriptomic and functional level. They are capable of mimicking branching bile duct development as well as being used for studying diseases in which the biliary tree does not develop properly (Alagille Syndrome). Furthermore, we deliver evidence that our culture method allows for formation of complex cholangiocyte cancer (cholangiocarcinoma, CCA) organoids. These branching CCA organoids resemble the primary tumor more closely compared to previously published protocols as well as showing unique tumor-specific drug responses. In conclusion, our culture method allows for creation of novel (malignant) cholangiocyte-organoids to study the intrahepatic bile ducts. Overall design: bulk RNAsequencing analysis of paired BRCCAO and CCAO (n=3) samples and tumor tissue samples (n=2)