High-throughput 3D microvessel-on-a-chip model to study defective angiogenesis in systemic sclerosis

In early systemic sclerosis (Scleroderma, SSc), the vasculature is impaired. Although the exact etiology of endothelial cell damage in SSc remains unclear, it is hypothesized that endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) plays a key role. To perform physiologically relevant angiogenic studies, we set out to develop an angiogenesis-on-a-chip platform that is suitable for assessing disease parameters that are relevant to SSc and other vasculopathies. In the model, we substituted Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) with Human Serum without impairing the stability of the culture. We showed that 3D microvessels and angiogenic factor-induced sprouts exposed to key pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines (TNFα and TGFβ) undergo structural alterations consisting of destructive vasculopathy (loss of small vessels). We also showed that these detrimental effects can be prevented by compound-mediated inhibition of TGFβ-ALK5 signaling or addition of a TNFα neutralizing antibody to the 3D cultures. This demonstrates that our in vitro model is suitable for compound testing and identification of new drugs that can protect from microvascular destabilization or regression in disease-mimicking conditions. To support this, we demonstrated that sera obtained from SSc patients can exert an anti-angiogenic effect on the 3D vessel model, opening the doors to screening for potential SSc drugs, enabling direct patient translatability and personalization of drug treatment.