Functional Assessment of a Bioprinted Immuno-Mimetic Peyer's Patch Recapitulating Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbiome interacting with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).
• Current models for studying GALT and microbiome interactions are often simplified, lacking key structural and functional components.
• Understanding these interactions is crucial for addressing gut health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a more comprehensive in vitro model of GALT that includes Peyer's patches (PP) and the intestinal monolayer.
• To investigate the functional interactions between this GALT model and the gut microbiome.
• To analyze the immune defense mechanisms within this complex gut model.

Main Methods:

• Utilized bioprinting to fabricate a dome-shaped structure array mimicking Peyer's patches.
• Co-cultured epithelial cells to establish an intestinal monolayer atop the Peyer's patch structure.
• Assessed model stability, cell differentiation, and immune response to bacterial stimuli (lipopolysaccharides and Escherichia coli).

Main Results:

• The bioprinted GALT model demonstrated stable cell differentiation and durability against lipopolysaccharides.
• The model showed enhanced responsiveness to Escherichia coli, evidenced by increased nitric oxide production.
• The model highlighted GALT's role in maintaining bacterial coexistence and facilitating immune defense via immunoglobulin A secretion.

Conclusions:

• The developed bioprinted GALT model effectively recapitulates key aspects of gut-immune system complexity.
• This advanced model provides a valuable platform for studying host-microbiome interactions and immune responses.
• The findings offer significant insights into the intricate relationship between the gut immune system and microbial communities.