Human assembloids

Deconstructing and then reconstructing developmental processes ex vivo is crucial to understanding how organs assemble and how physiology can be disrupted in disease. Human 3D stem cell-derived systems, such as organoids, have facilitated this pursuit; however, they often do not capture inter-tissue or inter-lineage cellular interactions that give rise to emergent tissue properties during development. Assembloids are self-organizing 3D cellular systems that result from the integration of multiple organoids or the combination of organoids with missing cell types or primary tissue explants. Here, we outline the concept and types of assembloids and present their applications for studying the nervous system and other tissues. We describe tools that are used to probe and manipulate assembloids and delineate current challenges and the potential for this new approach to interrogate development and disease.

Automated summary

Deconstructing and reconstructing developmental processes ex vivo is essential for understanding organ assembly and disease physiology. Assembloids, self-organizing 3D cellular systems formed by integrating multiple organoids or combining organoids with missing cell types or primary tissue explants, have emerged as a powerful tool in studying development and disease. They provide a better representation of cellular interactions and emergent tissue properties during development.