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de Hoyos-Vega JM, Gonzalez-Suarez AM, Cedillo-Alcantar DF, Stybayeva G, Matveyenko A, Malhi H, Garcia-Cordero JL, Revzin A. Microfluidic 3D hepatic cultures integrated with a droplet-based bioanalysis unit. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 248:115896. [PMID: 38176252 PMCID: PMC10916504 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
A common challenge in microfluidic cell cultures has to do with analysis of cell function without replacing a significant fraction of the culture volume and disturbing local concentration gradients of signals. To address this challenge, we developed a microfluidic cell culture device with an integrated bioanalysis unit to enable on-chip analysis of picoliter volumes of cell-conditioned media. The culture module consisted of an array of 140 microwells with a diameter of 300 m which were made low-binding to promote organization of cells into 3D spheroids. The bioanalysis module contained a droplet generator unit, 15 micromechanical valves and reservoirs loaded with reagents. Each 0.8 nL droplet contained an aliquot of conditioned media mixed with assay reagents. The use of microvalves allowed us to load enzymatic assay and immunoassay into sequentially generated droplets for detection of glucose and albumin, respectively. As a biological application of the microfluidic device, we evaluated hormonal stimulation and glucose consumption of hepatic spheroids. To mimic physiological processes occurring during feeding and fasting, hepatic spheroids were exposed to pancreatic hormones, insulin or glucagon. The droplet-based bioanalysis module was used to measure uptake or release of glucose upon hormonal stimulation. In the future, we intend to use this microfluidic device to mimic and measure pathophysiological processes associated with hepatic insulin resistance and diabetes in the context of metabolic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M de Hoyos-Vega
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Diana F Cedillo-Alcantar
- Laboratory of Microtechnologies Applied to Biomedicine, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav), Monterrey, NL, Mexico
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Aleksey Matveyenko
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, MN, USA
| | - Jose L Garcia-Cordero
- Laboratory of Microtechnologies Applied to Biomedicine, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav), Monterrey, NL, Mexico
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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2
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Kim R, Sung JH. Recent Advances in Gut- and Gut-Organ-Axis-on-a-Chip Models. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2302777. [PMID: 38243887 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The human gut extracts nutrients from the diet while forming the largest barrier against the outer environment. In addition, the gut actively maintains homeostasis through intricate interactions with the gut microbes, the immune system, the enteric nervous system, and other organs. These interactions influence digestive health and, furthermore, play crucial roles in systemic health and disease. Given its primary role in absorbing and metabolizing orally administered drugs, there is significant interest in the development of preclinical in vitro model systems that can accurately emulate the intestine in vivo. A gut-on-a-chip system holds great potential as a testing and screening platform because of its ability to emulate the physiological aspects of in vivo tissues and expandability to incorporate and combine with other organs. This review aims to identify the key physiological features of the human gut that need to be incorporated to build more accurate preclinical models and highlights the recent progress in gut-on-a-chip systems and competing technologies toward building more physiologically relevant preclinical model systems. Furthermore, various efforts to construct multi-organ systems with the gut, called gut-organ-axis-on-a-chip models, are discussed. In vitro gut models with physiological relevance can provide valuable platforms for bridging the gap between preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raehyun Kim
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong, 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hwan Sung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
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3
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Mahdavi R, Hashemi-Najafabadi S, Ghiass MA, Adiels CB. Microfluidic design for in-vitro liver zonation-a numerical analysis using COMSOL Multiphysics. Med Biol Eng Comput 2024; 62:121-133. [PMID: 37733153 DOI: 10.1007/s11517-023-02936-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The liver is one of the most important organs, with a complex physiology. Current in-vitro approaches are not accurate for disease modeling and drug toxicity research. One of those features is liver zonation, where cells display different physiological states due to different levels of oxygen and nutrient supplements. Organ-on-a-chip technology employs microfluidic platforms that enable a controlled environment for in-vitro cell culture. In this study, we propose a microfluidic design embedding a gas channel (of ambient air), creating an oxygen gradient. We numerically simulate different flow rates and cell densities with the COMSOL Multiphysics package considering cell-specific consumption rates of oxygen and glucose. We establish the cell density and flow rate for optimum oxygen and glucose distribution in the cell culture chamber. Furthermore, we show that a physiologically relevant concentration of oxygen and glucose in the chip is reached after 24 h and 30 min, respectively. The proposed microfluidic design and optimal parameters we identify in this paper provide a tool for in-vitro liver zonation studies. However, the microfluidic design is not exclusively for liver cell experiments but is foreseen to be applicable in cell studies where different gas concentration gradients are critical, e.g., studying hypoxia or toxic gas impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Mahdavi
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, P.O. Box 14115-114, Iran
| | - Sameereh Hashemi-Najafabadi
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, P.O. Box 14115-114, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Adel Ghiass
- Tissue Engineering Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, P.O. Box 14115-114, Iran
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4
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Xie R, Pal V, Yu Y, Lu X, Gao M, Liang S, Huang M, Peng W, Ozbolat IT. A comprehensive review on 3D tissue models: Biofabrication technologies and preclinical applications. Biomaterials 2024; 304:122408. [PMID: 38041911 PMCID: PMC10843844 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The limitations of traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures and animal testing, when it comes to precisely foreseeing the toxicity and clinical effectiveness of potential drug candidates, have resulted in a notable increase in the rate of failure during the process of drug discovery and development. Three-dimensional (3D) in-vitro models have arisen as substitute platforms with the capacity to accurately depict in-vivo conditions and increasing the predictivity of clinical effects and toxicity of drug candidates. It has been found that 3D models can accurately represent complex tissue structure of human body and can be used for a wide range of disease modeling purposes. Recently, substantial progress in biomedicine, materials and engineering have been made to fabricate various 3D in-vitro models, which have been exhibited better disease progression predictivity and drug effects than convention models, suggesting a promising direction in pharmaceutics. This comprehensive review highlights the recent developments in 3D in-vitro tissue models for preclinical applications including drug screening and disease modeling targeting multiple organs and tissues, like liver, bone, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, heart, brain, and cartilage. We discuss current strategies for fabricating 3D models for specific organs with their strengths and pitfalls. We expand future considerations for establishing a physiologically-relevant microenvironment for growing 3D models and also provide readers with a perspective on intellectual property, industry, and regulatory landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjian Xie
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication for Tissue Engineering in Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, 341000, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, China
| | - Vaibhav Pal
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Yanrong Yu
- School of Pharmaceutics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, 330006, China
| | - Xiaolu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication for Tissue Engineering in Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, 341000, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, China
| | - Mengwei Gao
- School of Pharmaceutics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, 330006, China
| | - Shijie Liang
- School of Pharmaceutics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, 330006, China
| | - Miao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication for Tissue Engineering in Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, 341000, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, China
| | - Weijie Peng
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication for Tissue Engineering in Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, 341000, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JX, China; School of Pharmaceutics, Nanchang University, Nanchang, JX, 330006, China.
| | - Ibrahim T Ozbolat
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University, Adana, 01130, Turkey; Biotechnology Research and Application Center, Cukurova University, Adana, 01130, Turkey.
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5
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Otumala AE, Hellen DJ, Luna CA, Delgado P, Dissanayaka A, Ugwumadu C, Oshinowo O, Islam MM, Shen L, Karpen SJ, Myers DR. Opportunities and considerations for studying liver disease with microphysiological systems on a chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2877-2898. [PMID: 37282629 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00940d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Advances in microsystem engineering have enabled the development of highly controlled models of the liver that better recapitulate the unique in vivo biological conditions. In just a few short years, substantial progress has been made in creating complex mono- and multi-cellular models that mimic key metabolic, structural, and oxygen gradients crucial for liver function. Here we review: 1) the state-of-the-art in liver-centric microphysiological systems and 2) the array of liver diseases and pressing biological and therapeutic challenges which could be investigated with these systems. The engineering community has unique opportunities to innovate with new liver-on-a-chip devices and partner with biomedical researchers to usher in a new era of understanding of the molecular and cellular contributors to liver diseases and identify and test rational therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adiya E Otumala
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Dominick J Hellen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - C Alessandra Luna
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Priscilla Delgado
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anjana Dissanayaka
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Chidozie Ugwumadu
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Oluwamayokun Oshinowo
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Md Mydul Islam
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Luyao Shen
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Saul J Karpen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David R Myers
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr, Suite E-160, Rm E-156, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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6
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Seubnooch P, Montani M, Tsouka S, Claude E, Rafiqi U, Perren A, Dufour JF, Masoodi M. Characterisation of hepatic lipid signature distributed across the liver zonation using mass spectrometry imaging. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100725. [PMID: 37284141 PMCID: PMC10240278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Lipid metabolism plays an important role in liver pathophysiology. The liver lobule asymmetrically distributes oxygen and nutrition, resulting in heterogeneous metabolic functions. Periportal and pericentral hepatocytes have different metabolic functions, which lead to generating liver zonation. We developed spatial metabolic imaging using desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry to investigate lipid distribution across liver zonation with high reproducibility and accuracy. Methods Fresh frozen livers from healthy mice with control diet were analysed using desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry imaging. Imaging was performed at 50 μm × 50 μm pixel size. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually created by co-registering with histological data to determine the spatial hepatic lipids across liver zonation. The ROIs were confirmed by double immunofluorescence. The mass list of specific ROIs was automatically created, and univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed to identify statistically significant lipids across liver zonation. Results A wide range of lipid species was identified, including fatty acids, phospholipids, triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, ceramides, and sphingolipids. We characterised hepatic lipid signatures in three different liver zones (periportal zone, midzone, and pericentral zone) and validated the reproducibility of our method for measuring a wide range of lipids. Fatty acids were predominantly detected in the periportal region, whereas phospholipids were distributed in both the periportal and pericentral zones. Interestingly, phosphatidylinositols, PI(36:2), PI(36:3), PI(36:4), PI(38:5), and PI(40:6) were located predominantly in the midzone (zone 2). Triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols were detected mainly in the pericentral region. De novo triacylglycerol biosynthesis appeared to be the most influenced pathway across the three zones. Conclusions The ability to accurately assess zone-specific hepatic lipid distribution in the liver could lead to a better understanding of lipid metabolism during the progression of liver disease. Impact and Implications Zone-specific hepatic lipid metabolism could play an important role in lipid homoeostasis during disease progression. Herein, we defined the zone-specific references of hepatic lipid species in the three liver zones using molecular imaging. The de novo triacylglycerol biosynthesis was highlighted as the most influenced pathway across the three zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patcharamon Seubnooch
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Montani
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Tsouka
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Umara Rafiqi
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aurel Perren
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Francois Dufour
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mojgan Masoodi
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
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7
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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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8
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Vega JMDH, Hong HJ, Loutherback K, Stybayeva G, Revzin A. A Microfluidic Device for Long-Term Maintenance of Organotypic Liver Cultures. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2023; 8:2201121. [PMID: 36818276 PMCID: PMC9937715 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Liver cultures may be used for disease modeling, testing therapies and predicting drug-induced injury. The complexity of the liver cultures has evolved from hepatocyte monocultures to co-cultures with non-parenchymal cells and finally to precision-cut liver slices. The latter culture format retains liver's native biomolecular and cellular complexity and therefore holds considerable promise for in vitro testing. However, liver slices remain functional for ~72 h in vitro and display limited utility for some disease modeling and therapy testing applications that require longer culture times. This paper describes a microfluidic device for longer-term maintenance of functional organotypic liver cultures. Our microfluidic culture system was designed to enable direct injection of liver tissue into a culture chamber through a valve-enabled side port. Liver tissue was embedded in collagen and remained functional for up to 31 days, highlighted by continued production of albumin and urea. These organotypic cultures also expressed several enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism. Conversely, matched liver tissue embedded in collagen in a 96-well plate lost its phenotype and function within 3-5 days. The microfluidic organotypic liver cultures described here represent a significant advance in liver cultivation and may be used for future modeling of liver diseases or for individualized liver-directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. de Hoyos Vega
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Hye Jin Hong
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Kevin Loutherback
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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9
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Liver Regeneration and Immunity: A Tale to Tell. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021176. [PMID: 36674692 PMCID: PMC9864482 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The physiological importance of the liver is demonstrated by its unique and essential ability to regenerate following extensive injuries affecting its function. By regenerating, the liver reacts to hepatic damage and thus enables homeostasis to be restored. The aim of this review is to add new findings that integrate the regenerative pathway to the current knowledge. An optimal regeneration is achieved through the integration of two main pathways: IL-6/JAK/STAT3, which promotes hepatocyte proliferation, and PI3K/PDK1/Akt, which in turn enhances cell growth. Proliferation and cell growth are events that must be balanced during the three phases of the regenerative process: initiation, proliferation and termination. Achieving the correct liver/body weight ratio is ensured by several pathways as extracellular matrix signalling, apoptosis through caspase-3 activation, and molecules including transforming growth factor-beta, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. The actors involved in the regenerative process are numerous and many of them are also pivotal players in both the immune and non-immune inflammatory process, that is observed in the early stages of hepatic regeneration. Balance of Th17/Treg is important in liver inflammatory process outcomes. Knowledge of liver regeneration will allow a more detailed characterisation of the molecular mechanisms that are crucial in the interplay between proliferation and inflammation.
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10
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Deguchi S, Takayama K. State-of-the-art liver disease research using liver-on-a-chip. Inflamm Regen 2022; 42:62. [PMID: 36494740 PMCID: PMC9733013 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-022-00248-0] [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: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand disease pathophysiologies, models that recapitulate human functions are necessary. In vitro models that consist of human cells are preferred to ones using animal cells, because organ functions can vary from species to species. However, conventional in vitro models do not recapitulate human organ functions well. Organ-on-a-chip technology provides a reliable in vitro model of the functional units of human organs. Organ-on-a-chip technology uses microfluidic devices and their accessories to impart organ functions to human cells. Using microfluidic devices, we can co-culture multiple cell types that compose human organs. Moreover, we can culture human cells under physiologically relevant stresses, such as mechanical and shear stresses. Current organ-on-a-chip technology can reproduce the functions of several organs including the liver. Because it is difficult to maintain the function of human hepatocytes, which are the gold standard of in vitro liver models, under conventional culture conditions, the application of liver-on-a-chips to liver disease research is expected. This review introduces the current status and future prospects of liver-on-a-chips in liver disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Deguchi
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan ,grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Department of Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan ,grid.480536.c0000 0004 5373 4593AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Tokyo, 100-0004 Japan
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11
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Yang Z, Liu X, Cribbin EM, Kim AM, Li JJ, Yong KT. Liver-on-a-chip: Considerations, advances, and beyond. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:061502. [PMID: 36389273 PMCID: PMC9646254 DOI: 10.1063/5.0106855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body with largest mass of glandular tissue. Modeling the liver has been challenging due to its variety of major functions, including processing nutrients and vitamins, detoxification, and regulating body metabolism. The intrinsic shortfalls of conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture methods for studying pharmacokinetics in parenchymal cells (hepatocytes) have contributed to suboptimal outcomes in clinical trials and drug development. This prompts the development of highly automated, biomimetic liver-on-a-chip (LOC) devices to simulate native liver structure and function, with the aid of recent progress in microfluidics. LOC offers a cost-effective and accurate model for pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity studies. This review provides a critical update on recent developments in designing LOCs and fabrication strategies. We highlight biomimetic design approaches for LOCs, including mimicking liver structure and function, and their diverse applications in areas such as drug screening, toxicity assessment, and real-time biosensing. We capture the newest ideas in the field to advance the field of LOCs and address current challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elise M. Cribbin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Alice M. Kim
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Jiao Jiao Li
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Ken-Tye Yong
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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Palacio-Castañeda V, Velthuijs N, Le Gac S, Verdurmen WPR. Oxygen control: the often overlooked but essential piece to create better in vitro systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1068-1092. [PMID: 35084420 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00603g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Variations in oxygen levels play key roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes, but are often not properly controlled in in vitro models, introducing a significant bias in experimental outcomes. Recent developments in microfluidic technology have introduced a paradigm shift by providing new opportunities to better mimic physiological and pathological conditions, which is achieved by both regulating and monitoring oxygen levels at the micrometre scale in miniaturized devices. In this review, we first introduce the nature and relevance of oxygen-dependent pathways in both physiological and pathological contexts. Subsequently, we discuss strategies to control oxygen in microfluidic devices, distinguishing between engineering approaches that operate at the device level during its fabrication and chemical approaches that involve the active perfusion of fluids oxygenated at a precise level or supplemented with oxygen-producing or oxygen-scavenging materials. In addition, we discuss readout approaches for monitoring oxygen levels at the cellular and tissue levels, focusing on electrochemical and optical detection schemes for high-resolution measurements directly on-chip. An overview of different applications in which microfluidic devices have been utilized to answer biological research questions is then provided. In the final section, we provide our vision for further technological refinements of oxygen-controlling devices and discuss how these devices can be employed to generate new fundamental insights regarding key scientific problems that call for emulating oxygen levels as encountered in vivo. We conclude by making the case that ultimately emulating physiological or pathological oxygen levels should become a standard feature in all in vitro cell, tissue, and organ models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Niels Velthuijs
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Séverine Le Gac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology & TechMed Centre, Organ-on-a-chip Centre, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Wouter P R Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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13
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Microfluidic Organ-on-a-Chip Devices for Liver Disease Modeling In Vitro. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13030428. [PMID: 35334720 PMCID: PMC8950395 DOI: 10.3390/mi13030428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mortality from liver disease conditions continues to be very high. As liver diseases manifest and progress silently, prompt measures after diagnosis are essential in the treatment of these conditions. Microfluidic organs-on-chip platforms have significant potential for the study of the pathophysiology of liver diseases in vitro. Different liver-on-a-chip microphysiological platforms have been reported to study cell-signaling pathways such as those activating stellate cells within liver diseases. Moreover, the drug efficacy for liver conditions might be evaluated on a cellular metabolic level. Here, we present a comprehensive review of microphysiological platforms used for modelling liver diseases. First, we briefly introduce the concept and importance of organs-on-a-chip in studying liver diseases in vitro, reflecting on existing reviews of healthy liver-on-a-chip platforms. Second, the techniques of cell cultures used in the microfluidic devices, including 2D, 3D, and spheroid cells, are explained. Next, the types of liver diseases (NAFLD, ALD, hepatitis infections, and drug injury) on-chip are explained for a further comprehensive overview of the design and methods of developing liver diseases in vitro. Finally, some challenges in design and existing solutions to them are reviewed
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14
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Shroff T, Aina K, Maass C, Cipriano M, Lambrecht J, Tacke F, Mosig A, Loskill P. Studying metabolism with multi-organ chips: new tools for disease modelling, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Open Biol 2022; 12:210333. [PMID: 35232251 PMCID: PMC8889168 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-clinical models to study metabolism including animal models and cell assays are often limited in terms of species translatability and predictability of human biology. This field urgently requires a push towards more physiologically accurate recapitulations of drug interactions and disease progression in the body. Organ-on-chip systems, specifically multi-organ chips (MOCs), are an emerging technology that is well suited to providing a species-specific platform to study the various types of metabolism (glucose, lipid, protein and drug) by recreating organ-level function. This review provides a resource for scientists aiming to study human metabolism by providing an overview of MOCs recapitulating aspects of metabolism, by addressing the technical aspects of MOC development and by providing guidelines for correlation with in silico models. The current state and challenges are presented for two application areas: (i) disease modelling and (ii) pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics. Additionally, the guidelines to integrate the MOC data into in silico models could strengthen the predictive power of the technology. Finally, the translational aspects of metabolizing MOCs are addressed, including adoption for personalized medicine and prospects for the clinic. Predictive MOCs could enable a significantly reduced dependence on animal models and open doors towards economical non-clinical testing and understanding of disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanvi Shroff
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany,Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Österbergstraße 3, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kehinde Aina
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Madalena Cipriano
- Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Österbergstraße 3, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Joeri Lambrecht
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Mosig
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Loskill
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany,Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Österbergstraße 3, 72074 Tübingen, Germany,3R-Center for In vitro Models and Alternatives to Animal Testing, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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15
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Lee S, Kim JH, Kang SJ, Chang IH, Park JY. Customized Multilayered Tissue-on-a-Chip (MToC) to Simulate Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) Immunotherapy for Bladder Cancer Treatment. BIOCHIP JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13206-022-00047-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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16
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Panday R, Monckton CP, Khetani SR. The Role of Liver Zonation in Physiology, Regeneration, and Disease. Semin Liver Dis 2022; 42:1-16. [PMID: 35120381 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1742279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
As blood flows from the portal triad to the central vein, cell-mediated depletion establishes gradients of soluble factors such as oxygen, nutrients, and hormones, which act through molecular pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, hedgehog) to spatially regulate hepatocyte functions along the sinusoid. Such "zonation" can lead to the compartmentalized initiation of several liver diseases, including alcoholic/non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, chemical/drug-induced toxicity, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and can also modulate liver regeneration. Transgenic rodent models provide valuable information on the key molecular regulators of zonation, while in vitro models allow for subjecting cells to precisely controlled factor gradients and elucidating species-specific differences in zonation. Here, we discuss the latest advances in both in vivo and in vitro models of liver zonation and pending questions to be addressed moving forward. Ultimately, obtaining a deeper understanding of zonation can lead to the development of more effective therapeutics for liver diseases, microphysiological systems, and scalable cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regeant Panday
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Chase P Monckton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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17
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Youhanna S, Kemas AM, Preiss L, Zhou Y, Shen JX, Cakal SD, Paqualini FS, Goparaju SK, Shafagh RZ, Lind JU, Sellgren CM, Lauschke VM. Organotypic and Microphysiological Human Tissue Models for Drug Discovery and Development-Current State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:141-206. [PMID: 35017176 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of successful drug development projects has been stagnant for decades despite major breakthroughs in chemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. Unreliable target identification and poor translatability of preclinical models have been identified as major causes of failure. To improve predictions of clinical efficacy and safety, interest has shifted to three-dimensional culture methods in which human cells can retain many physiologically and functionally relevant phenotypes for extended periods of time. Here, we review the state of the art of available organotypic culture techniques and critically review emerging models of human tissues with key importance for pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity. In addition, developments in bioprinting and microfluidic multiorgan cultures to emulate systemic drug disposition are summarized. We close by highlighting important trends regarding the fabrication of organotypic culture platforms and the choice of platform material to limit drug absorption and polymer leaching while supporting the phenotypic maintenance of cultured cells and allowing for scalable device fabrication. We conclude that organotypic and microphysiological human tissue models constitute promising systems to promote drug discovery and development by facilitating drug target identification and improving the preclinical evaluation of drug toxicity and pharmacokinetics. There is, however, a critical need for further validation, benchmarking, and consolidation efforts ideally conducted in intersectoral multicenter settings to accelerate acceptance of these novel models as reliable tools for translational pharmacology and toxicology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Organotypic and microphysiological culture of human cells has emerged as a promising tool for preclinical drug discovery and development that might be able to narrow the translation gap. This review discusses recent technological and methodological advancements and the use of these systems for hit discovery and the evaluation of toxicity, clearance, and absorption of lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Youhanna
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Aurino M Kemas
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Lena Preiss
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Yitian Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Joanne X Shen
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Selgin D Cakal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Francesco S Paqualini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Sravan K Goparaju
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Reza Zandi Shafagh
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Johan Ulrik Lind
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Carl M Sellgren
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
| | - Volker M Lauschke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (S.Y., A.M.K., L.P., Y.Z., J.X.S., S.K.G., R.Z.S., C.M.S., V.M.L.); Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (L.P.); Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark (S.D.C., J.U.L.); Synthetic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (F.S.P.); Division of Micro- and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Z.S.); and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany (V.M.L.)
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18
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Tanataweethum N, Trang A, Lee C, Mehta J, Patel N, Cohen RN, Bhushan A. Investigation of insulin resistance through a multiorgan microfluidic organ-on-chip. Biomed Mater 2021; 17. [PMID: 34942604 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ac4611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The development of hepatic insulin resistance (IR) is a critical factor in developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), where insulin fails to inhibit hepatic glucose production but retains its capacity to promote hepatic lipogenesis. Improving insulin sensitivity can be effective in preventing and treating T2D. However, selective control of glucose and lipid synthesis has been difficult. It is known that excess white adipose tissue is detrimental to insulin sensitivity, whereas brown adipose tissue transplantation can restore it in diabetic mice. However, challenges remain in our understanding of liver-adipose communication because the confounding effects of hypothalamic regulation of metabolic function cannot be ruled out in previous studies. There is a lack of in vitro models that use primary cells to study cellular-crosstalk under insulin resistant conditions. Building upon our previous work on the microfluidic primary liver and adipose organ-on-chips, we report for the first time the development of integrated insulin resistant liver-adipose (white and brown) organ-on-chip. The design of the microfluidic device was carried out using computational fluid dynamics; the experimental studies were conducted by carrying out detailed biochemical analysis RNA-seq analysis on both cell types. Further, we tested the hypothesis that brown adipocytes regulated both hepatic insulin sensitivity and lipogenesis. Our results show effective co-modulation of hepatic glucose and lipid synthesis through a platform for identifying potential therapeutics for IR and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nida Tanataweethum
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South dearborn street, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Allyson Trang
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South Dearborn Street Wishnick Hall, Suite 314, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Chaeeun Lee
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South Dearborn Street Wishnick Hall, Suite 314, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Jhalak Mehta
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South dearborn street, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Neha Patel
- Illinois Institute of Technology, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, 3255 South dearborn street, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
| | - Ronald N Cohen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 1027, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637-1476, UNITED STATES
| | - Abhinav Bhushan
- Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3255 S Dearborn St, Wishnick 314, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60616-3717, UNITED STATES
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de Hoyos-Vega JM, Hong HJ, Stybayeva G, Revzin A. Hepatocyte cultures: From collagen gel sandwiches to microfluidic devices with integrated biosensors. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:041504. [PMID: 34703968 PMCID: PMC8519630 DOI: 10.1063/5.0058798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocytes are parenchymal cells of the liver responsible for drug detoxification, urea and bile production, serum protein synthesis, and glucose homeostasis. Hepatocytes are widely used for drug toxicity studies in bioartificial liver devices and for cell-based liver therapies. Because hepatocytes are highly differentiated cells residing in a complex microenvironment in vivo, they tend to lose hepatic phenotype and function in vitro. This paper first reviews traditional culture approaches used to rescue hepatic function in vitro and then discusses the benefits of emerging microfluidic-based culture approaches. We conclude by reviewing integration of hepatocyte cultures with bioanalytical or sensing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M. de Hoyos-Vega
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
| | - Hye Jin Hong
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA
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20
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Lee SY, Kim D, Lee SH, Sung JH. Microtechnology-based in vitro models: Mimicking liver function and pathophysiology. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:041505. [PMID: 34703969 PMCID: PMC8520487 DOI: 10.1063/5.0061896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver plays important roles in drug metabolism and homeostasis. The metabolism and biotransformation can not only affect the efficacy of drugs but also result in hepatotoxicity and drug-induced liver injury. Understanding the complex physiology of the liver and the pathogenetic mechanisms of liver diseases is essential for drug development. Conventional in vitro models have limitations in the ability to predict drug effects, due to the lack of physiological relevance. Recently, the liver-on-a-chip platform has been developed to reproduce the microarchitecture and in vivo environment of the liver. These efforts have improved the physiological relevance of the liver tissue used in the platform and have demonstrated its applicability to drug screening and disease models. In this review, we summarize the recent development of liver-on-a-chip models that closely mimic the in vivo liver environments and liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Yeon Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, South Korea
| | - Donghyun Kim
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, South Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Lee
- Department of Bionano Engineering, Center for Bionano Intelligence Education and Research, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, South Korea
| | - Jong Hwan Sung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, South Korea
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21
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Du K, Li S, Li C, Li P, Miao C, Luo T, Qiu B, Ding W. Modeling nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on a liver lobule chip with dual blood supply. Acta Biomater 2021; 134:228-239. [PMID: 34265474 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a public health concern. To date, the mechanism of NAFLD progression remains unclear, and pharmacological treatment options are scarce. Traditional animal NAFLD models are limited in helping address these problems due to interspecies differences. Liver chips are promising for modeling NAFLD. However, pre-existing liver chips cannot reproduce complex physicochemical microenvironments of the liver effectively; thus, NAFLD modeling based on these chips is incomplete. Herein, we develop a biomimetic liver lobule chip (LC) and then establish a more accurate on-chip NAFLD model. The self-developed LC achieves dual blood supply through the designed hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery and the microtissue cultured on the LC forms multiple structures similar to in vivo liver. Based on the LC, NAFLD is modeled. Steatosis is successfully induced and more importantly, changing lipid zonation in a liver lobule with the progression of NAFLD is demonstrated for the first time on a microfluidic chip. In addition, the application of the induced NAFLD model has been preliminarily demonstrated in the prevention and reversibility of promising drugs. This study provides a promising platform to understand NAFLD progression and identify drugs for treating NAFLD. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Liver chips are promising for modeling nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, on-chip replicating liver physicochemical microenvironments is still a challenge. Herein, we developed a liver lobule chip with dual blood supply, achieving self-organized liver microtissue that is similar to in vivo tissue. Based on the chip, we successfully modeled NAFLD under physiologically differentiated nutrient supplies. For the first time, the changing lipid zonation in a single liver lobule with the early-stage progression of NAFLD was demonstrated on a liver chip. This study provides a promising platform for modeling liver-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Du
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Shibo Li
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Chengpan Li
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ping Li
- Chinese Integrative Medicine Oncology Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Chunguang Miao
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Tianzhi Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Weiping Ding
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
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22
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Chang M, Bogacheva MS, Lou YR. Challenges for the Applications of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Liver Organoids. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:748576. [PMID: 34660606 PMCID: PMC8517247 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.748576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The current organoid culture systems allow pluripotent and adult stem cells to self-organize to form three-dimensional (3D) structures that provide a faithful recapitulation of the architecture and function of in vivo organs. In particular, human pluripotent stem cell-derived liver organoids (PSC-LOs) can be used in regenerative medicine and preclinical applications, such as disease modeling and drug discovery. New bioengineering tools, such as microfluidics, biomaterial scaffolds, and 3D bioprinting, are combined with organoid technologies to increase the efficiency of hepatic differentiation and enhance the functional maturity of human PSC-LOs by precise control of cellular microenvironment. Long-term stabilization of hepatocellular functions of in vitro liver organoids requires the combination of hepatic endodermal, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells. To improve the biological function and scalability of human PSC-LOs, bioengineering methods have been used to identify diverse and zonal hepatocyte populations in liver organoids for capturing heterogeneous pathologies. Therefore, constructing engineered liver organoids generated from human PSCs will be an extremely versatile tool in in vitro disease models and regenerative medicine in future. In this review, we aim to discuss the recent advances in bioengineering technologies in liver organoid culture systems that provide a timely and necessary study to model disease pathology and support drug discovery in vitro and to generate cell therapy products for transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Chang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Administration, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mariia S. Bogacheva
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Yan-Ru Lou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Administration, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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23
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Garcia-Gutierrez E, Cotter PD. Relevance of organ(s)-on-a-chip systems to the investigation of food-gut microbiota-host interactions. Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 48:463-488. [PMID: 34591726 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1979933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ever greater understanding of the composition and function of the gut microbiome has provided new opportunities with respect to understanding and treating human disease. However, the models employed for in vitro and in vivo animal studies do not always provide the required insights. As a result, one such alternative in vitro cell culture based system, organ-on-a-chip technology, has recently attracted attention as a means of obtaining data that is representative of responses in humans. Organ-on-a-chip systems are designed to mimic the interactions of different tissue elements that were missing from traditional two-dimensional tissue culture. While they do not traditionally include a microbiota component, organ-on-a-chip systems provide a potentially valuable means of characterising the interactions between the microbiome and human tissues with a view to providing even greater accuracy. From a dietary perspective, these microbiota-organ-on-a-chip combinations can help researchers to predict how the consumption of specific foods and ingredients can impact on human health and disease. We provide an overview of the relevance and interactions of the gut microbiota and the diet in human health, we summarise the components involved in the organ-on-a-chip systems, how these systems have been employed for microbiota based studies and their potential relevance to study the interplay between food-gut microbiota-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul D Cotter
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,VistaMilk SFI Research Centre, Moorepark, Ireland
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24
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Monckton CP, Brown GE, Khetani SR. Latest impact of engineered human liver platforms on drug development. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:031506. [PMID: 34286173 PMCID: PMC8286174 DOI: 10.1063/5.0051765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of drug attrition, which is partly due to differences between preclinical animals and humans in metabolic pathways. Therefore, in vitro human liver models are utilized in biopharmaceutical practice to mitigate DILI risk and assess related mechanisms of drug transport and metabolism. However, liver cells lose phenotypic functions within 1–3 days in two-dimensional monocultures on collagen-coated polystyrene/glass, which precludes their use to model the chronic effects of drugs and disease stimuli. To mitigate such a limitation, bioengineers have adapted tools from the semiconductor industry and additive manufacturing to precisely control the microenvironment of liver cells. Such tools have led to the fabrication of advanced two-dimensional and three-dimensional human liver platforms for different throughput needs and assay endpoints (e.g., micropatterned cocultures, spheroids, organoids, bioprinted tissues, and microfluidic devices); such platforms have significantly enhanced liver functions closer to physiologic levels and improved functional lifetime to >4 weeks, which has translated to higher sensitivity for predicting drug outcomes and enabling modeling of diseased phenotypes for novel drug discovery. Here, we focus on commercialized engineered liver platforms and case studies from the biopharmaceutical industry showcasing their impact on drug development. We also discuss emerging multi-organ microfluidic devices containing a liver compartment that allow modeling of inter-tissue crosstalk following drug exposure. Finally, we end with key requirements for engineered liver platforms to become routine fixtures in the biopharmaceutical industry toward reducing animal usage and providing patients with safe and efficacious drugs with unprecedented speed and reduced cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase P Monckton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Grace E Brown
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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25
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Saydmohammed M, Jha A, Mahajan V, Gavlock D, Shun TY, DeBiasio R, Lefever D, Li X, Reese C, Kershaw EE, Yechoor V, Behari J, Soto-Gutierrez A, Vernetti L, Stern A, Gough A, Miedel MT, Lansing Taylor D. Quantifying the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in human biomimetic liver microphysiology systems with fluorescent protein biosensors. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:2420-2441. [PMID: 33957803 PMCID: PMC8606957 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211009228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome is a complex disease that involves multiple organ systems including a critical role for the liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a key component of the metabolic syndrome and fatty liver is linked to a range of metabolic dysfunctions that occur in approximately 25% of the population. A panel of experts recently agreed that the acronym, NAFLD, did not properly characterize this heterogeneous disease given the associated metabolic abnormalities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), obesity, and hypertension. Therefore, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed as the new term to cover the heterogeneity identified in the NAFLD patient population. Although many rodent models of NAFLD/NASH have been developed, they do not recapitulate the full disease spectrum in patients. Therefore, a platform has evolved initially focused on human biomimetic liver microphysiology systems that integrates fluorescent protein biosensors along with other key metrics, the microphysiology systems database, and quantitative systems pharmacology. Quantitative systems pharmacology is being applied to investigate the mechanisms of NAFLD/MAFLD progression to select molecular targets for fluorescent protein biosensors, to integrate computational and experimental methods to predict drugs for repurposing, and to facilitate novel drug development. Fluorescent protein biosensors are critical components of the platform since they enable monitoring of the pathophysiology of disease progression by defining and quantifying the temporal and spatial dynamics of protein functions in the biosensor cells, and serve as minimally invasive biomarkers of the physiological state of the microphysiology system experimental disease models. Here, we summarize the progress in developing human microphysiology system disease models of NAFLD/MAFLD from several laboratories, developing fluorescent protein biosensors to monitor and to measure NAFLD/MAFLD disease progression and implementation of quantitative systems pharmacology with the goal of repurposing drugs and guiding the creation of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manush Saydmohammed
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Anupma Jha
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Vineet Mahajan
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Dillon Gavlock
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Tong Ying Shun
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Richard DeBiasio
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Daniel Lefever
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Xiang Li
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Celeste Reese
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Erin E Kershaw
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Vijay Yechoor
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Jaideep Behari
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Liver Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Larry Vernetti
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Andrew Stern
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Albert Gough
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Mark T Miedel
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - D Lansing Taylor
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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26
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De Chiara F, Ferret-Miñana A, Ramón-Azcón J. The Synergy between Organ-on-a-Chip and Artificial Intelligence for the Study of NAFLD: From Basic Science to Clinical Research. Biomedicines 2021; 9:248. [PMID: 33801289 PMCID: PMC7999375 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9030248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver affects about 25% of global adult population. On the long-term, it is associated with extra-hepatic compliances, multiorgan failure, and death. Various invasive and non-invasive methods are employed for its diagnosis such as liver biopsies, CT scan, MRI, and numerous scoring systems. However, the lack of accuracy and reproducibility represents one of the biggest limitations of evaluating the effectiveness of drug candidates in clinical trials. Organ-on-chips (OOC) are emerging as a cost-effective tool to reproduce in vitro the main NAFLD's pathogenic features for drug screening purposes. Those platforms have reached a high degree of complexity that generate an unprecedented amount of both structured and unstructured data that outpaced our capacity to analyze the results. The addition of artificial intelligence (AI) layer for data analysis and interpretation enables those platforms to reach their full potential. Furthermore, the use of them do not require any ethic and legal regulation. In this review, we discuss the synergy between OOC and AI as one of the most promising ways to unveil potential therapeutic targets as well as the complex mechanism(s) underlying NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco De Chiara
- Biosensors for Bioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10–12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-M.); (J.R.-A.)
| | - Ainhoa Ferret-Miñana
- Biosensors for Bioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10–12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-M.); (J.R.-A.)
| | - Javier Ramón-Azcón
- Biosensors for Bioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10–12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-M.); (J.R.-A.)
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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27
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刘 婷, 葛 玉, 袁 敏, 熊 巧, 赵 建. [A review on cell-based models of human liver disease in vitro]. SHENG WU YI XUE GONG CHENG XUE ZA ZHI = JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING = SHENGWU YIXUE GONGCHENGXUE ZAZHI 2021; 38:178-184. [PMID: 33899443 PMCID: PMC10307582 DOI: 10.7507/1001-5515.202004027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Unhealthy diet, habits and drug abuse cause a variety of liver diseases, including steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, which seriously affect human health. The fabrication of highly simulated cell models in vitro is important in the treatment of liver diseases and drug development. This article summarized the common strategies for the construction of liver pathology models in vitro. It introduced four typical cell models in vitro related to liver disease and provided a reference for the study of liver disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- 婷 刘
- 上海理工大学 医疗器械与食品学院(上海 200093)School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P.R.China
- 中国科学院 上海微系统与信息技术研究所 传感技术联合国家重点实验室(上海 200050)State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, P.R.China
| | - 玉卿 葛
- 中国科学院 上海微系统与信息技术研究所 传感技术联合国家重点实验室(上海 200050)State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, P.R.China
| | - 敏 袁
- 上海理工大学 医疗器械与食品学院(上海 200093)School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, P.R.China
| | - 巧 熊
- 海军军医大学附属长海医院 泌尿外科(上海 200433)Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R.China
| | - 建龙 赵
- 中国科学院 上海微系统与信息技术研究所 传感技术联合国家重点实验室(上海 200050)State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, P.R.China
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28
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Hernández-Rodríguez JF, Rojas D, Escarpa A. Electrochemical Sensing Directions for Next-Generation Healthcare: Trends, Challenges, and Frontiers. Anal Chem 2020; 93:167-183. [PMID: 33174738 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Hernández-Rodríguez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Rojas
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.,Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Alberto Escarpa
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alcalá, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.,Chemical Research Institute Andres M. del Rio, University of Alcalá, E-28871 Madrid, Spain
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29
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Gori M, Giannitelli SM, Zancla A, Mozetic P, Trombetta M, Merendino N, Rainer A. Quercetin and hydroxytyrosol as modulators of hepatic steatosis: A NAFLD-on-a-chip study. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:142-152. [PMID: 32889748 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Organs-on-chip (OoCs) are catching on as a promising and valuable alternative to animal models, in line with the 3Rs initiative. OoCs enable the creation of three-dimensional (3D) tissue microenvironments with physiological and pathological relevance at unparalleled precision and complexity, offering new opportunities to model human diseases and to test the potential therapeutic effect of drugs, while overcoming the limited predictive accuracy of conventional 2D culture systems. Here, we present a liver-on-a-chip model to investigate the effects of two naturally occurring polyphenols, namely quercetin and hydroxytyrosol, on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using a high-content analysis readout methodology. NAFLD is currently the most common form of chronic liver disease; however, its complex pathogenesis is still far from being elucidated, and no definitive treatment has been established so far. In our experiments, we observed that both polyphenols seem to restrain the progression of the free fatty acid-induced hepatocellular steatosis, showing a cytoprotective effect due to their antioxidant and lipid-lowering properties. In conclusion, the findings of the present work could guide novel strategies to contrast the onset and progression of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuele Gori
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Zancla
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.,Department of Engineering, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Pamela Mozetic
- Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czechia.,Institute of Nanotechnology (NANOTEC), National Research Council, Lecce, Italy
| | - Marcella Trombetta
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolò Merendino
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Alberto Rainer
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Nanotechnology (NANOTEC), National Research Council, Lecce, Italy.,Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), Pisa, Italy
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30
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Özkan A, Stolley D, Cressman ENK, McMillin M, DeMorrow S, Yankeelov TE, Rylander MN. The Influence of Chronic Liver Diseases on Hepatic Vasculature: A Liver-on-a-chip Review. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E487. [PMID: 32397454 PMCID: PMC7281532 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma, the cells and extracellular matrix of the liver undergo significant alteration in response to chronic injury. Recent literature has highlighted the critical, but less studied, role of the liver vasculature in the progression of chronic liver diseases. Recent advancements in liver-on-a-chip systems has allowed in depth investigation of the role that the hepatic vasculature plays both in response to, and progression of, chronic liver disease. In this review, we first introduce the structure, gradients, mechanical properties, and cellular composition of the liver and describe how these factors influence the vasculature. We summarize state-of-the-art vascularized liver-on-a-chip platforms for investigating biological models of chronic liver disease and their influence on the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells of the hepatic vasculature. We conclude with a discussion of how future developments in the field may affect the study of chronic liver diseases, and drug development and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alican Özkan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Danielle Stolley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Erik N K Cressman
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew McMillin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA
| | - Sharon DeMorrow
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Thomas E Yankeelov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Departments of Diagnostic Medicine, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Marissa Nichole Rylander
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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31
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Cebola I. Liver gene regulatory networks: Contributing factors to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2020; 12:e1480. [PMID: 32020788 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) result from complex interactions between intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including genetics and exposure to obesogenic environments. These risk factors converge in aberrant gene expression patterns in the liver, which are underlined by altered cis-regulatory networks. In homeostasis and in disease states, liver cis-regulatory networks are established by coordinated action of liver-enriched transcription factors (TFs), which define enhancer landscapes, activating broad gene programs with spatiotemporal resolution. Recent advances in DNA sequencing have dramatically expanded our ability to map active transcripts, enhancers and TF cistromes, and to define the 3D chromatin topology that contains these elements. Deployment of these technologies has allowed investigation of the molecular processes that regulate liver development and metabolic homeostasis. Moreover, genomic studies of NAFLD patients and NAFLD models have demonstrated that the liver undergoes pervasive regulatory rewiring in NAFLD, which is reflected by aberrant gene expression profiles. We have therefore achieved an unprecedented level of detail in the understanding of liver cis-regulatory networks, particularly in physiological conditions. Future studies should aim to map active regulatory elements with added levels of resolution, addressing how the chromatin landscapes of different cell lineages contribute to and are altered in NAFLD and NAFLD-associated metabolic states. Such efforts would provide additional clues into the molecular factors that trigger this disease. This article is categorized under: Biological Mechanisms > Metabolism Biological Mechanisms > Regulatory Biology Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Genetic/Genomic Methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Cebola
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Section of Genetics and Genomics, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Kang YBA, Eo J, Bulutoglu B, Yarmush ML, Usta OB. Progressive hypoxia-on-a-chip: An in vitro oxygen gradient model for capturing the effects of hypoxia on primary hepatocytes in health and disease. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 117:763-775. [PMID: 31736056 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Oxygen is vital to the function of all tissues including the liver and lack of oxygen, that is, hypoxia can result in both acute and chronic injuries to the liver in vivo and ex vivo. Furthermore, a permanent oxygen gradient is naturally present along the liver sinusoid, which plays a role in the metabolic zonation and the pathophysiology of liver diseases. Accordingly, here, we introduce an in vitro microfluidic platform capable of actively creating a series of oxygen concentrations on a single continuous microtissue, ranging from normoxia to severe hypoxia. This range approximately captures both the physiologically relevant oxygen gradient generated from the portal vein to the central vein in the liver, and the severe hypoxia occurring in ischemia and liver diseases. Primary rat hepatocytes cultured in this microfluidic platform were exposed to an oxygen gradient of 0.3-6.9%. The establishment of an ascending hypoxia gradient in hepatocytes was confirmed in response to the decreasing oxygen supply. The hepatocyte viability in this platform decreased to approximately 80% along the hypoxia gradient. Simultaneously, a progressive increase in accumulation of reactive oxygen species and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α was observed with increasing hypoxia. These results demonstrate the induction of distinct metabolic and genetic responses in hepatocytes upon exposure to an oxygen (/hypoxia) gradient. This progressive hypoxia-on-a-chip platform can be used to study the role of oxygen and hypoxia-associated molecules in modeling healthy and injured liver tissues. Its use can be further expanded to the study of other hypoxic tissues such as tumors as well as the investigation of drug toxicity and efficacy under oxygen-limited conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Bok Abraham Kang
- Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Mechanical & Civil & Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon
| | - Jinsu Eo
- Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Beyza Bulutoglu
- Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martin L Yarmush
- Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - O Berk Usta
- Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
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