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Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device
Published on: August 30, 2016
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A microfluidics-based in vitro model of the gastrointestinal human-microbe interface
Pranjul Shah1, Joëlle V Fritz1, Enrico Glaab1
1Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 6 avenue du Swing, Belvaux L-4367, Luxembourg.
Nature Communications
|May 12, 2016
Summary
A new microfluidics model (HuMiX) enables co-culture of human and microbial cells, accurately modeling the gut interface. This system reveals distinct host-microbe interactions, advancing our understanding of gastrointestinal health and disease.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Bioengineering
Background:
- Alterations in the human gastrointestinal microbiome are linked to various diseases.
- Current animal models for studying host-microbe interactions have limitations.
- Understanding host-microbe molecular interactions is crucial for human health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel microfluidics-based model for studying human-microbial crosstalk (HuMiX).
- To assess the model's ability to recapitulate in vivo responses in human intestinal cells.
- To investigate distinct host-microbial interactions using the HuMiX system.
Main Methods:
- Development of a modular microfluidics platform (HuMiX) for co-culturing human and microbial cells.
- Co-culture of human intestinal epithelial cells with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) under anaerobic conditions.
- Co-culture of human epithelial cells with Bacteroides caccae and LGG.
Main Results:
- HuMiX successfully recapitulated in vivo transcriptional, metabolic, and immunological responses in human intestinal cells.
- Co-culture with LGG alone induced specific host responses.
- Co-culture with both Bacteroides caccae and LGG elicited a distinct transcriptional response compared to LGG alone.
Conclusions:
- The HuMiX model provides a representative system for studying the gastrointestinal human-microbe interface.
- HuMiX facilitates the investigation of host-microbe molecular interactions.
- This model offers insights into the link between the gastrointestinal microbiome and human health and disease.
