In Vitro Morphogenesis and Differentiation of Human Intestinal Epithelium in a Gut-on-a-Chip

Methods Mol Biol. 2023:2650:197-206. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3076-1_15.

Abstract

The establishment of a three-dimensional (3D) epithelial structure and cytodifferentiation in vitro is necessary to recapitulate in vivo-relevant structure and function of the human intestine. Here, we describe an experimental protocol to build an organomimetic gut-on-a-chip microdevice that allows inducing 3D morphogenesis of human intestinal epithelium using Caco-2 cells or intestinal organoid cells. Under physiological flow and physical motions, intestinal epithelium spontaneously recreates 3D epithelial morphology in a gut-on-a-chip that offers enhanced mucus production, epithelial barrier, and longitudinal host-microbe co-culture. This protocol may provide implementable strategies to advance traditional in vitro static cultures, human microbiome studies, and pharmacological testing.

Keywords: Gut-on-a-chip; Human intestinal epithelium; In vitro model; Morphogenesis; Organoid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Morphogenesis