Fig. 1: Image of GI epithelium and the surrounding tissues.
From: Gastrointestinal tract modeling using organoids engineered with cellular and microbiota niches
In GI tissues, there are numerous interactions between the epithelium and microbes or other cells, such as fibroblasts, vascular cells, immune cells and neural cells. Their communication has significant effects on the functions and homeostasis of the epithelium, indicating the necessity of including stromal cells and microbiota for producing functional 3D organoid models of the GI tract.
