Biological engineers have developed a multi-tissue model on a specialized microfluidic platform seeded with human cells, enabling them to research the interactions between various organs and the immune system.
The study team investigated the function of circulating immune cells in ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory diseases using this model, also known as “organ-on-a-chip” or “physiome on-a-chip.” A metabolic byproduct of microbes found in the human gut was also crucial in these inflammatory circumstances.
By planning trials in these organ-on-a-chip models, they have demonstrated that they can now begin to combat some of these challenging chronic inflammatory diseases. Now, under controlled, methodical circumstances, they can reduce or increase the complexity of the disease.
Researchers wanted to simulate the colon and liver interactions in the new Cell Systems investigation. They also wished to research how those organs are affected by the immune system, particularly T cells. It is already known that up to 80% of people with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a persistent liver autoimmune disease, also have inflammatory bowel disease. (IBD). Additionally, patients with IBD have a much higher risk of getting autoimmune liver diseases. The novel system includes healthy liver cells as well as colon cells that were removed from ulcerative colitis patients.
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