돼지 간 유래 탈세포화 세포바깥바탕질 하이드로겔 지지체를 활용한 가슴샘상피세포의 3차원 배양

The thymus is essential for adaptive immunity, mediating the selection and maturation of T cells. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs), as key stromal components, form a three-dimensional sponge-like network that creates the microenvironment critical for T cell development. Physical and biochemical interactions between TECs and developing thymocytes occur within this network and are indispensable for proper T cell maturation. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems, however, fail to replicate the thymic microenvironment, leading to reduced TEC functionality and impaired T cell development. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture offers a more physiologically relevant model by enabling cells to grow within structured scaffolds that facilitate interactions with neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby mimicking the in vivo environment. Scaffolds that replicate the structural and biochemical properties of the ECM are essential for implementing 3D culture. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffolds meet these requirements by preserving ECM's native structure and bioactivity after removing cellular components. dECM-based scaffolds support diverse cellular activities-such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation-without the need for additional biological factors, making them ideal for tissue engineering applications. This study developed a bioactive hydrogel derived from porcine liver dECM to support the 3D culture of TECs. The hydrogel enhanced TEC proliferation, survival, spheroid formation, and activity, closely replicating the native thymic microenvironment. These findings advance our understanding of TEC behavior in 3D culture and highlight the potential of porcine liver dECM hydrogels for applications in T cell development, thymic organoid bioprinting, and thymus regeneration.