title: The physiological performance of a three-dimensional model that mimics the microenvironment of the small intestine.
abstract: Our focus was to develop a three-dimensional (3D) human dynamic in vitro tissue model that mimics the natural microenvironment of the small intestine. We co-cultured human Caco-2 cells with primary-isolated human microvascular endothelial cells (hMECs) on decellularized porcine jejunal segments within a custom-made dynamic bioreactor system that resembles the apical and basolateral side of the intestine for up to 14 days. The obtained data were compared to results generated using routine static Caco-2 assays. We performed histology and immunohistochemistry. Permeability was measured using directed transport studies. Histological analyses revealed that in tissue-engineered segments, which had been cultured under dynamic conditions, the Caco-2 cells showed a high-prismatic morphology, resembling normal primary enterocytes within their native environment. We further identified that the transport of low permeable substances, such as fluorescein and desmopressin increased within the dynamic bioreactor cultures. Immunohistochemical staining showed a significantly higher expression of the efflux transport p-glycoprotein (p-gp) under dynamic culture conditions when compared to the static cultures. We conclude that the integration of physiological parameters is crucial for the establishment of a reliable 3D intestinal in vitro model, which enables the simulation of drug transport over the gut-blood-barrier in a simplified way.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Department of Cell and Tissue Engineering, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pusch
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Votteler
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Göhler
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Engl
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hampel
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walles
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schenke-Layland
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological