1
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Huff LK, Amurgis CM, Kokai LE, Abbott RD. Optimization and validation of a fat-on-a-chip model for non-invasive therapeutic drug discovery. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1404327. [PMID: 38988864 PMCID: PMC11235003 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1404327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a significant public health concern that is closely associated with various comorbidities such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes (T2D), and certain cancers. Due to the central role of adipose tissue in many disease etiologies and the pervasive nature in the body, engineered adipose tissue models are essential for drug discovery and studying disease progression. This study validates a fat-on-a-chip (FOAC) model derived from primary mature adipocytes. Our FOAC model uses a Micronit perfusion device and introduces a novel approach for collecting continuous data by using two non-invasive readout techniques, resazurin and glucose uptake. The Micronit platform proved to be a reproducible model that can effectively maintain adipocyte viability, metabolic activity, and basic functionality, and is capable of mimicking physiologically relevant responses such as adipocyte hypertrophy and insulin-mediated glucose uptake. Importantly, we demonstrate that adipocyte size is highly dependent on extracellular matrix properties, as adipocytes derived from different patients with variable starting lipid areas equilibrate to the same size in the hyaluronic acid hydrogel. This model can be used to study T2D and monitor adipocyte responses to insulin for longitudinally tracking therapeutic efficacy of novel drugs or drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey K. Huff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Charles M. Amurgis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Lauren E. Kokai
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Rosalyn D. Abbott
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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2
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Morrison AI, Sjoerds MJ, Vonk LA, Gibbs S, Koning JJ. In vitro immunity: an overview of immunocompetent organ-on-chip models. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1373186. [PMID: 38835750 PMCID: PMC11148285 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1373186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Impressive advances have been made to replicate human physiology in vitro over the last few years due to the growth of the organ-on-chip (OoC) field in both industrial and academic settings. OoCs are a type of microphysiological system (MPS) that imitates functional and dynamic aspects of native human organ biology on a microfluidic device. Organoids and organotypic models, ranging in their complexity from simple single-cell to complex multi-cell type constructs, are being incorporated into OoC microfluidic devices to better mimic human physiology. OoC technology has now progressed to the stage at which it has received official recognition by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an alternative to standard procedures in drug development, such as animal studies and traditional in vitro assays. However, an area that is still lagging behind is the incorporation of the immune system, which is a critical element required to investigate human health and disease. In this review, we summarise the progress made to integrate human immunology into various OoC systems, specifically focusing on models related to organ barriers and lymphoid organs. These models utilise microfluidic devices that are either commercially available or custom-made. This review explores the difference between the use of innate and adaptive immune cells and their role for modelling organ-specific diseases in OoCs. Immunocompetent multi-OoC models are also highlighted and the extent to which they recapitulate systemic physiology is discussed. Together, the aim of this review is to describe the current state of immune-OoCs, the limitations and the future perspectives needed to improve the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew I. Morrison
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mirthe J. Sjoerds
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Leander A. Vonk
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susan Gibbs
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jasper J. Koning
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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3
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Osonoi S, Takebe T. Organoid-guided precision hepatology for metabolic liver disease. J Hepatol 2024; 80:805-821. [PMID: 38237864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease affects millions of people worldwide. Progress towards a definitive cure has been incremental and treatment is currently limited to lifestyle modification. Hepatocyte-specific lipid accumulation is the main trigger of lipotoxic events, driving inflammation and fibrosis. The underlying pathology is extraordinarily heterogenous, and the manifestations of steatohepatitis are markedly influenced by metabolic communications across non-hepatic organs. Synthetic human tissue models have emerged as powerful platforms to better capture the mechanistic diversity in disease progression, while preserving person-specific genetic traits. In this review, we will outline current research efforts focused on integrating multiple synthetic tissue models of key metabolic organs, with an emphasis on organoid-based systems. By combining functional genomics and population-scale en masse profiling methodologies, human tissues derived from patients can provide insights into personalised genetic, transcriptional, biochemical, and metabolic states. These collective efforts will advance our understanding of steatohepatitis and guide the development of rational solutions for mechanism-directed diagnostic and therapeutic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Osonoi
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan
| | - Takanori Takebe
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; WPI Premium Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (WPI-PRIMe) and Department of Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan; Communication Design Center, Advanced Medical Research Center, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan.
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4
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Navarro-Perez J, Carobbio S. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells, in vivo and in vitro models for metabolic diseases. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116108. [PMID: 38438053 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The primary role of adipose tissue stem cells (ADSCs) is to support the function and homeostasis of adipose tissue in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. However, when ADSCs become dysfunctional in diseases such as obesity and cancer, they become impaired, undergo signalling changes, and their epigenome is altered, which can have a dramatic effect on human health. In more recent years, the therapeutic potential of ADSCs in regenerative medicine, wound healing, and for treating conditions such as cancer and metabolic diseases has been extensively investigated with very promising results. ADSCs have also been used to generate two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cellular and in vivo models to study adipose tissue biology and function as well as intracellular communication. Characterising the biology and function of ADSCs, how it is altered in health and disease, and its therapeutic potential and uses in cellular models is key for designing intervention strategies for complex metabolic diseases and cancer.
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5
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Chaurasiya V, Pham DD, Harju J, Juuti A, Penttilä A, Emmagouni SKG, Nguyen VD, Zhang B, Perttunen S, Keskitalo S, Zhou Y, Pietiläinen KH, Haridas PAN, Olkkonen VM. Human visceral adipose tissue microvascular endothelial cell isolation and establishment of co-culture with white adipocytes to analyze cell-cell communication. Exp Cell Res 2023; 433:113819. [PMID: 37852349 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Communication between adipocytes and endothelial cells (EC) is suggested to play an important role in the metabolic function of white adipose tissue. In order to generate tools to investigate in detail the physiology and communication of EC and adipocytes, a method for isolation of adipose microvascular EC from visceral adipose tissue (VAT) biopsies of subjects with obesity was developed. Moreover, mature white adipocytes were isolated from the VAT biopsies by a method adapted from a previously published Membrane aggregate adipocytes culture (MAAC) protocol. The identity and functionality of the cultivated and isolated adipose microvascular EC (AMvEC) was validated by imaging their morphology, analyses of mRNA expression, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), immunostaining, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, and in vitro angiogenesis assays. Finally, we established a new trans filter co-culture system (membrane aggregate adipocyte and endothelial co-culture, MAAECC) for the analysis of communication between the two cell types. EC-adipocyte communication in this system was validated by omics analyses, revealing several altered proteins belonging to pathways such as metabolism, intracellular transport and signal transduction in adipocytes co-cultured with AMvEC. In reverse experiments, induction of several pathways including endothelial development and functions was found in AMvEC co-cultured with adipocytes. In conclusion, we developed a robust method to isolate EC from small quantities of human VAT. Furthermore, the MAAECC system established during the study enables one to study the communication between primary white adipocytes and EC or vice-versa and could also be employed for drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Chaurasiya
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum 2U, Helsinki, Finland; Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Dan Duc Pham
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum 2U, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jukka Harju
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Abdominal Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Juuti
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Abdominal Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Penttilä
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Abdominal Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Van Dien Nguyen
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK; Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Birong Zhang
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK; Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Sanni Perttunen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum 2U, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Salla Keskitalo
- Molecular Systems Biology Research Group & Proteomics Unit, HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - You Zhou
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK; Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Kirsi H Pietiläinen
- Obesity Research Unit, Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; HealthyWeightHub, Endocrinology, Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - P A Nidhina Haridas
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum 2U, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vesa M Olkkonen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum 2U, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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6
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Ramadan Q, Hazaymeh R, Zourob M. Immunity-on-a-Chip: Integration of Immune Components into the Scheme of Organ-on-a-Chip Systems. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200312. [PMID: 36866511 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Studying the immune system in vitro aims to understand how, when, and where the immune cells migrate/differentiate and respond to the various triggering events and the decision points along the immune response journey. It becomes evident that organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology has a superior capability to recapitulate the cell-cell and tissue-tissue interaction in the body, with a great potential to provide tools for tracking the paracrine signaling with high spatial-temporal precision and implementing in situ real-time, non-destructive detection assays, therefore, enabling extraction of mechanistic information rather than phenotypic information. However, despite the rapid development in this technology, integration of the immune system into OOC devices stays among the least navigated tasks, with immune cells still the major missing components in the developed models. This is mainly due to the complexity of the immune system and the reductionist methodology of the OOC modules. Dedicated research in this field is demanded to establish the understanding of mechanism-based disease endotypes rather than phenotypes. Herein, we systemically present a synthesis of the state-of-the-art of immune-cantered OOC technology. We comprehensively outlined what is achieved and identified the technology gaps emphasizing the missing components required to establish immune-competent OOCs and bridge these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qasem Ramadan
- Alfaisal University, Riyadh, 11533, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana Hazaymeh
- Almaarefa University, Diriyah, 13713, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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7
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Escudero M, Vaysse L, Eke G, Peyrou M, Villarroya F, Bonnel S, Jeanson Y, Boyer L, Vieu C, Chaput B, Yao X, Deschaseaux F, Parny M, Raymond‐Letron I, Dani C, Carrière A, Malaquin L, Casteilla L. Scalable Generation of Pre-Vascularized and Functional Human Beige Adipose Organoids. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301499. [PMID: 37731092 PMCID: PMC10625054 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Obesity and type 2 diabetes are becoming a global sociobiomedical burden. Beige adipocytes are emerging as key inducible actors and putative relevant therapeutic targets for improving metabolic health. However, in vitro models of human beige adipose tissue are currently lacking and hinder research into this cell type and biotherapy development. Unlike traditional bottom-up engineering approaches that aim to generate building blocks, here a scalable system is proposed to generate pre-vascularized and functional human beige adipose tissue organoids using the human stromal vascular fraction of white adipose tissue as a source of adipose and endothelial progenitors. This engineered method uses a defined biomechanical and chemical environment using tumor growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway inhibition and specific gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) embedding parameters to promote the self-organization of spheroids in GelMA hydrogel, facilitating beige adipogenesis and vascularization. The resulting vascularized organoids display key features of native beige adipose tissue including inducible Uncoupling Protein-1 (UCP1) expression, increased uncoupled mitochondrial respiration, and batokines secretion. The controlled assembly of spheroids allows to translate organoid morphogenesis to a macroscopic scale, generating vascularized centimeter-scale beige adipose micro-tissues. This approach represents a significant advancement in developing in vitro human beige adipose tissue models and facilitates broad applications ranging from basic research to biotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Escudero
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
- LAAS‐CNRSUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS, INSAToulouse31400France
| | - Laurence Vaysse
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
| | - Gozde Eke
- LAAS‐CNRSUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS, INSAToulouse31400France
| | - Marion Peyrou
- CIBER “Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutrición”, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiomedicineUniversity of BarcelonaMadrid28029Spain
| | - Francesc Villarroya
- CIBER “Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutrición”, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiomedicineUniversity of BarcelonaMadrid28029Spain
| | - Sophie Bonnel
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
| | - Yannick Jeanson
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
| | - Louisa Boyer
- LAAS‐CNRSUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS, INSAToulouse31400France
| | - Christophe Vieu
- LAAS‐CNRSUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS, INSAToulouse31400France
| | - Benoit Chaput
- Service de Chirurgie plastique, reconstructrice et esthétiqueCentre Hospitalier Universitaire RangueilToulouse31400France
| | - Xi Yao
- Faculté de MédecineUniversité Côte d'AzurINSERM, CNRS, iBVNice06103France
| | - Frédéric Deschaseaux
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
| | - Mélissa Parny
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
- LabHPEC, Histology and Pathology DepartmentUniversité de Toulouse, ENVTToulouse31076France
| | - Isabelle Raymond‐Letron
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
- LabHPEC, Histology and Pathology DepartmentUniversité de Toulouse, ENVTToulouse31076France
| | - Christian Dani
- Faculté de MédecineUniversité Côte d'AzurINSERM, CNRS, iBVNice06103France
| | - Audrey Carrière
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
| | | | - Louis Casteilla
- RESTORE Research CenterUniversité de Toulouse, INSERM 1301, CNRS 5070, EFS, ENVTToulouse31100France
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8
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Baptista LS, Silva KR, Jobeili L, Guillot L, Sigaudo-Roussel D. Unraveling White Adipose Tissue Heterogeneity and Obesity by Adipose Stem/Stromal Cell Biology and 3D Culture Models. Cells 2023; 12:1583. [PMID: 37371053 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune and endocrine dysfunctions of white adipose tissue are a hallmark of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. In humans, white adipose tissue comprises distinct depots broadly distributed under the skin (hypodermis) and as internal depots (visceral). Depot-specific ASCs could account for visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue properties, by regulating adipogenesis and immunomodulation. More importantly, visceral and subcutaneous depots account for distinct contributions to obesity and its metabolic comorbidities. Recently, distinct ASCs subpopulations were also described in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Interestingly, the superficial layer closer to the dermis shows hyperplastic and angiogenic capacities, whereas the deep layer is considered as having inflammatory properties similar to visceral. The aim of this focus review is to bring the light of recent discoveries into white adipose tissue heterogeneity together with the biology of distinct ASCs subpopulations and to explore adipose tissue 3D models revealing their advantages, disadvantages, and contributions to elucidate the role of ASCs in obesity development. Recent advances in adipose tissue organoids opened an avenue of possibilities to recreate the main cellular and molecular events of obesity leading to a deep understanding of this inflammatory disease besides contributing to drug discovery. Furthermore, 3D organ-on-a-chip will add reproducibility to these adipose tissue models contributing to their translation to the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandra S Baptista
- Numpex-bio, Campus UFRJ Duque de Caxias Prof Geraldo Cidade, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 25240005, Brazil
| | - Karina R Silva
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Research, Histology and Embryology Department, Biology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20550900, Brazil
- Teaching and Research Division, National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Rio de Janeiro 20940070, Brazil
| | - Lara Jobeili
- Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, University of Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, CNRS, LBTI UMR 5305, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Lucile Guillot
- Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, University of Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, CNRS, LBTI UMR 5305, 69367 Lyon, France
- Urgo Research Innovation and Development, 21300 Chenôve, France
| | - Dominique Sigaudo-Roussel
- Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, University of Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, CNRS, LBTI UMR 5305, 69367 Lyon, France
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9
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Lauschke VM, Hagberg CE. Next-generation human adipose tissue culture methods. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 80:102057. [PMID: 37247571 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
White adipocytes are highly specialized, lipid-storing cells. Their unique characteristics, including their large cell size and high buoyancy, have made adipocytes hard to study in vitro. Most traditional monolayered adipocyte culture models also poorly reflect the morphology and expression of their mature counterparts. The recent invent of 3D adipocyte cultures seems to circumvent many of these shortcomings, and holds promise of improved adipocyte studies in vitro. Notable advances include vascularized and immunocompetent 3D adipose tissue models and organ-on-a-chip models. This short review aims to highlight some of the most recent advances, as well as discussing what challenges still lie ahead in order to develop culture models that are easily applicable, while adequately reflecting the characteristics of human adipose tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker M Lauschke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, 70 376 Stuttgart, Germany; University of Tübingen, 72 074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carolina E Hagberg
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
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10
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Yoon H, Seo JK, Park TE. Microphysiological system recapitulating the pathophysiology of adipose tissue in obesity. Acta Biomater 2023; 159:188-200. [PMID: 36724863 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence has indicated that white adipose tissue (AT) remodeling is a major trigger for obesity-associated metabolic complications. However, the scarcity of translational models is an obstacle to the development of medicines that act on adipose restoration. Here, we describe a microphysiological system (MPS) that emulates the unique features of reprogrammed AT as a new in vitro tool for studying AT pathophysiology in obesity. The AT MPS contained mature adipocytes embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel interfaced with AT microvascular endothelium, which was constantly perfused with fresh media. The unique biochemical signals due to the remodeled ECM in obesity were recapitulated using a decellularized AT ECM (AT dECM) hydrogel, which preserves the features of altered ECM composition in obesity. The mature adipocytes embedded in the AT dECM hydrogel maintained their function and morphology for a week without dedifferentiation. Using the AT MPS, we successfully modeled inflammation-induced AT microvascular dysfunction, the recruitment of immune cells due to the upregulation of cell adhesion molecules, and higher cancer cell adhesion as an indicator of metastasis, which are observed in obese individuals. The AT MPS may therefore represent a promising platform for understanding the dynamic cellular interplay in obesity-induced AT remodeling and validating the efficacy of drugs targeting AT in obesity. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The lack of translational in vitro white adipose tissue (AT) models is one of the main obstacles for understanding the obesity-induced reprogramming and the development of medicines. We report herein the AT microphysiological system (MPS), which recapitulates obesity and normal conditions and yields cell- and AT dECM-derived signals, thereby allowing accurate comparative in vitro analyses. Using the AT MPS, we successfully modeled reprogrammed AT in obesity conditions, including inflammation-induced AT vascular dysfunction, the recruitment of immune cells, and higher cancer cell metastasis, which are observed in obese individuals. Our proposed adipose tissue model providing physiological relevance and complexity may therefore enhance the understanding of obesity-associated disorders and be used to investigate their underlying molecular mechanisms to develop pharmacologic treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejeong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Kon Seo
- UNIST Central Research Facilities (UCRF), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Eun Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
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11
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From Single- to Multi-organ-on-a-Chip System for Studying Metabolic Diseases. BIOCHIP JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s13206-023-00098-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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12
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Aubry G, Lee HJ, Lu H. Advances in Microfluidics: Technical Innovations and Applications in Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Anal Chem 2023; 95:444-467. [PMID: 36625114 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Aubry
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Hyun Jee Lee
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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13
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Abstract
Metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, are a major threat to health in the modern world, but efforts to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop rational treatments are limited by the lack of appropriate human model systems. Notably, advances in stem cell and organoid technology allow the generation of cellular models that replicate the histological, molecular and physiological properties of human organs. Combined with marked improvements in gene editing tools, human stem cells and organoids provide unprecedented systems for studying mechanisms of metabolic diseases. Here, we review progress made over the past decade in the generation and use of stem cell-derived metabolic cell types and organoids in metabolic disease research, especially obesity and liver diseases. In particular, we discuss the limitations of animal models and the advantages of stem cells and organoids, including their application to metabolic diseases. We also discuss mechanisms of drug action, understanding the efficacy and toxicity of existing therapies, screening for new treatments and pursuing personalized therapies. We highlight the potential of combining stem cell-derived organoids with gene editing and functional genomics to revolutionize the approach to finding treatments for metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiang Hu
- Department of Basic Research, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong, China.
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Mitchell A Lazar
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Albrecht FB, Schmidt FF, Volz AC, Kluger PJ. Bioprinting of 3D Adipose Tissue Models Using a GelMA-Bioink with Human Mature Adipocytes or Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. Gels 2022; 8:gels8100611. [PMID: 36286112 PMCID: PMC9601941 DOI: 10.3390/gels8100611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Adipose tissue is related to the development and manifestation of multiple diseases, demonstrating the importance of suitable in vitro models for research purposes. In this study, adipose tissue lobuli were explanted, cultured, and used as an adipose tissue control to evaluate in vitro generated adipose tissue models. During culture, lobule exhibited a stable weight, lactate dehydrogenase, and glycerol release over 15 days. For building up in vitro adipose tissue models, we adapted the biomaterial gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) composition and handling to homogeneously mix and bioprint human primary mature adipocytes (MA) and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), respectively. Accelerated cooling of the bioink turned out to be essential for the homogeneous distribution of lipid-filled MAs in the hydrogel. Last, we compared manual and bioprinted GelMA hydrogels with MA or ASCs and the explanted lobules to evaluate the impact of the printing process and rate the models concerning the physiological reference. The viability analyses demonstrated no significant difference between the groups due to additive manufacturing. The staining of intracellular lipids and perilipin A suggest that GelMA is well suited for ASCs and MA. Therefore, we successfully constructed physiological in vitro models by bioprinting MA-containing GelMA bioinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska B. Albrecht
- Reutlingen Research Institute, Reutlingen University, 72762 Reutlingen, Germany
- Faculty of Natural Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Freia F. Schmidt
- Reutlingen Research Institute, Reutlingen University, 72762 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Ann-Cathrin Volz
- Reutlingen Research Institute, Reutlingen University, 72762 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Petra J. Kluger
- Faculty of Applied Chemistry, Reutlingen University, 72762 Reutlingen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-7121-271-2061
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Sorrell JM, Caplan AI. Heparan Sulfate: A Regulator of White Adipocyte Differentiation and of Vascular/Adipocyte Interactions. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092115. [PMID: 36140217 PMCID: PMC9495464 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
White adipose tissues are major endocrine organs that release factors, termed adipokines, which affect other major organ systems. The development and functions of adipose tissues depend largely upon the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) surround both adipocytes and vascular structures and facilitate the communication between these two components. This communication mediates the continued export of adipokines from adipose tissues. Heparan sulfates regulate cellular physiology and communication through a sulfation code that ionically interacts with heparan-binding regions on a select set of proteins. Many of these proteins are growth factors and chemokines that regulate tissue function and inflammation. Cells regulate heparan sulfate sulfation through the release of heparanases and sulfatases. It is now possible to tissue engineer vascularized adipose tissues that express heparan sulfate proteoglycans. This makes it possible to use these tissue constructs to study the role of heparan sulfates in the regulation of adipokine production and release. It is possible to regulate the production of heparanases and sulfatases in order to fine-tune experimental studies.
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Gellan Gum Is a Suitable Biomaterial for Manual and Bioprinted Setup of Long-Term Stable, Functional 3D-Adipose Tissue Models. Gels 2022; 8:gels8070420. [PMID: 35877505 PMCID: PMC9315477 DOI: 10.3390/gels8070420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to its wide-ranging endocrine functions, adipose tissue influences the whole body’s metabolism. Engineering long-term stable and functional human adipose tissue is still challenging due to the limited availability of suitable biomaterials and adequate cell maturation. We used gellan gum (GG) to create manual and bioprinted adipose tissue models because of its similarities to the native extracellular matrix and its easily tunable properties. Gellan gum itself was neither toxic nor monocyte activating. The resulting hydrogels exhibited suitable viscoelastic properties for soft tissues and were stable for 98 days in vitro. Encapsulated human primary adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) were adipogenically differentiated for 14 days and matured for an additional 84 days. Live-dead staining showed that encapsulated cells stayed viable until day 98, while intracellular lipid staining showed an increase over time and a differentiation rate of 76% between days 28 and 56. After 4 weeks of culture, adipocytes had a univacuolar morphology, expressed perilipin A, and secreted up to 73% more leptin. After bioprinting establishment, we demonstrated that the cells in printed hydrogels had high cell viability and exhibited an adipogenic phenotype and function. In summary, GG-based adipose tissue models show long-term stability and allow ASCs maturation into functional, univacuolar adipocytes.
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