Enhancing realism of gut-liver axis model

Disturbances of the gut-liver axis can contribute to disease in these two organs. However, animal models are too different from humans for researchers to properly understand this relationship. While miniature human models of the gut-liver axis are better for studying diseases and discovering drugs, they are not yet realistic enough.

Yang et al. developed a more realistic model of the gut-liver axis using an organ-on-chip microdevice. Gut and liver tissues exhibit different optimal flow conditions, and their device is the first to cultivate gut and liver cells separately with different perfusion flows to improve their viability and functionality.

Because the device consists of two cell-culture chambers, perfusion flows can be individually applied. However, the gut and liver tissues are still connected to allow observation of their interactions. A porous membrane divides the two tissues and features a circulation channel for transport across the barrier, controllable with an on-chip micropump.

The authors simulated inflammatory bowel disease on the device, demonstrating it can be used to model diseases that are based on inter-tissue interactions. Future research could also replace the gut and liver tissues with different tissues to study interactions of other organs.

“This model doesn’t necessarily have to be the gut and liver,” said author Ken-ichiro Kamei. “We can incorporate different tissues because we have individual accessibilities, therefore we could look at the gut and brain, or the liver and heart. That’s the kind of flexibility we have.”

Next, the authors hope to use this device to identify basic mechanisms and central molecules underlying disorders of the gut and liver to help cure these diseases.

Source: “Gut-liver-axis microphysiological system for studying cellular fluidic shear stress and inter-tissue interaction,” by Jiandong Yang, Satoshi Imamura, Yoshikazu Hirai, Toshiyuki Tsuchiya, Osamu Tabata, and Ken-ichiro Kamei, Biomicrofluidics (2022). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0088232 .