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Updated: Nov 19, 2025
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Isolation of Murine Adipose Tissue-derived Microvascular Fragments as Vascularization Units for Tissue Engineering
Published on: April 30, 2017
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Vascularized adipocyte organoid model using isolated human microvessel fragments
Hannah A Strobel1, Thomas Gerton1, James B Hoying1
1Advanced Solutions Life Sciences, 500 N Commercial St, Manchester, NH 03101, United States of America.
Biofabrication
|January 29, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to vascularize organoids using human microvessels. This enhances tissue modeling by incorporating microvasculature, improving the accuracy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and adipocyte organoids.
Area of Science:
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
- 3D cell culture and organoid technology.
- Vascular biology and microcirculation.
Background:
- Tissue organoids are valuable for modeling health and disease due to dynamic cell-cell interactions.
- Recapitulating native tissue interactions, like parenchyma and microvasculature, improves organoid model fidelity.
- The microvasculature is crucial for tissue perfusion, cellular interactions, and biochemical dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust method for vascularizing high cell-density organoids.
- To incorporate intact human microvessel fragments into mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and adipocyte organoids.
- To assess the impact of microvasculature on organoid function and cell behavior.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of whole, intact human microvessel fragments from adipose tissue into organoids.
- Development of a novel differentiation protocol for simultaneous MSC differentiation into adipocytes and microvessel angiogenesis.
- Culturing vascularized organoids in a 3D collagen matrix to observe microvessel sprouting.
Main Results:
- Isolated microvessels retained native structure and cell composition within organoids.
- Microvessels exhibited sprouting angiogenesis and grew out of MSC and adipocyte organoids.
- Optimal vascularization in MSC organoids achieved with a 50:1 MSC to microvessel fragment ratio.
- Adipocyte organoids displayed vascular networks, responded to lipolysis assays, and expressed key adipocyte markers.
- Vascularization promoted insulin receptor expression and modulated cytokine secretion (IL-6) in adipocytes.
Conclusions:
- A robust method for vascularizing high cell-density organoids using intact human microvessels was demonstrated.
- This approach enhances organoid fidelity by incorporating native microvascular components and promoting angiogenesis.
- The findings have potential implications for improving tissue modeling across various organ systems.
