Researchers have successfully generated granulosa-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which play a key role in ovarian follicle formation and support for oogenesis. By overexpressing two transcription factors (NR5A1 and either RUNX1 or RUNX2), the hiPSCs differentiated into granulosa-like cells that exhibited similar characteristics and gene expression profiles to human fetal ovarian cells. When combined with human primordial germ cell-like cells, these granulosa-like cells formed ovary-like organoids and supported the development of germ cells. This model system has the potential to advance the study of human ovarian biology and contribute to the development of therapies for female reproductive health.
https://elifesciences.org/articles/83291