# Hematopoietic organoids: Opportunities and challenges in modeling human hematopoiesis and diseases in vitro

## TL;DR

Hematopoietic organoids are 3D models that better mimic human blood development and disease compared to traditional 2D cultures, offering new research and drug discovery opportunities.

## Contribution

This review highlights recent advances in hematopoietic organoid construction and their potential for modeling human hematopoiesis and diseases.

## Key findings

- Hematopoietic organoids can better replicate in vivo cell behaviors and niche interactions than 2D cultures.
- HOs provide platforms for studying hematopoiesis, modeling diseases, and drug screening.
- Challenges remain in generating fully physiologically relevant hematopoietic organoid models.

## Abstract

Previous studies on hematopoiesis were mainly conducted in model animals. However, direct investigation of human hematopoiesis remains challenging due to limited access to human samples and ethical concerns. Traditional two-dimensional culture systems have provided valuable opportunities to study human hematopoiesis, but they fail to fully recapitulate the behaviors of hematopoietic cells and their interactions with niche cells as observed in vivo. In recent years, organoid technologies have emerged as a powerful approach for modeling hematopoietic development, maintenance, and diseases. By mimicking the key architectural and functional characteristics of native hematopoietic tissues, hematopoietic organoids (HOs) offer promising platforms for studying developmental hematopoiesis, modeling hematological diseases, performing drug screening, and generating functional hematopoietic cells. In this review, we summarize recent progress in HO construction, explore their potential applications in both basic research and clinical translation, and discuss current opportunities and remaining challenges in generating physiologically relevant HO models.

Hematopoietic organoids are emerging as powerful 3D models that overcome the limitations of traditional 2D cultures. In this review, Feng Liu and colleagues explore how these organoids are revolutionizing the study of human blood development, disease, and drug discovery.