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Polidoro MA, Ferrari E, Soldani C, Franceschini B, Saladino G, Rosina A, Mainardi A, D’Autilia F, Pugliese N, Costa G, Donadon M, Torzilli G, Marzorati S, Rasponi M, Lleo A. Cholangiocarcinoma-on-a-chip: A human 3D platform for personalised medicine. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:100910. [PMID: 38074504 PMCID: PMC10698278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary liver tumour characterised by a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Available 3D human CCA models fail to faithfully recapitulate the tumour niche. We aimed to develop an innovative patient-specific CCA-on-chip platform. METHODS A CCA tumour microenvironment was recapitulated on a microfluidic three-channel chip using primary CCA cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and T cells isolated from CCA specimens (n = 6). CAF and CCA cells were co-cultured in the central channel, flanked by endothelial cells in one lateral channel, recreating a tubular structure. An extensive characterisation of this platform was carried out to investigate its diffusion ability, hydrogel properties, and changes in matrix composition. Cell phenotype and functional properties were assessed. RESULTS Primary cells seeded on the microfluidic device were shown to reproduce the architectural structure and maintain the original phenotype and functional properties. The tumour niche underwent a deep remodelling in the 3D device, with an increase in hydrogel stiffness and extracellular matrix deposition, mimicking in vivo CCA characteristics. T cells were incorporated into the device to assess its reliability for immune cell interaction studies. Higher T cell migration was observed using cells from patients with highly infiltrated tumours. Finally, the drug trial showed the ability of the device to recapitulate different drug responses based on patient characteristics. CONCLUSIONS We presented a 3D CCA platform that integrates the major non-immune components of the tumour microenvironment and the T cell infiltrate, reflecting the CCA niche. This CCA-on-chip represents a reliable patient-specific 3D platform that will be of help to further elucidate the biological mechanisms involved in CCA and provide an efficient tool for personalised drug testing. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS An innovative patient-specific cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)-on-chip platform was successfully developed, integrating the major components of the tumour microenvironment (tumour cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune infiltrate) and faithfully mimicking the CCA niche. This CCA-on-chip represents a powerful tool for unravelling disease-associated cellular mechanisms in CCA and provides an efficient tool for personalised drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Anna Polidoro
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Erika Ferrari
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiana Soldani
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Franceschini
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Saladino
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Rosina
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Mainardi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesca D’Autilia
- Unit of Advanced Optical Microscopy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Pugliese
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Costa
- Division of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, Department of Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Donadon
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
- Department of General Surgery, University Maggiore Hospital, Novara, Italy
| | - Guido Torzilli
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, Department of Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Marzorati
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ana Lleo
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Nitsche KS, Müller I, Malcomber S, Carmichael PL, Bouwmeester H. Implementing organ-on-chip in a next-generation risk assessment of chemicals: a review. Arch Toxicol 2022. [PMID: 35103818 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03234-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OoC) technology is full of engineering and biological challenges, but it has the potential to revolutionize the Next-Generation Risk Assessment of novel ingredients for consumer products and chemicals. A successful incorporation of OoC technology into the Next-Generation Risk Assessment toolbox depends on the robustness of the microfluidic devices and the organ tissue models used. Recent advances in standardized device manufacturing, organ tissue cultivation and growth protocols offer the ability to bridge the gaps towards the implementation of organ-on-chip technology. Next-Generation Risk Assessment is an exposure-led and hypothesis-driven tiered approach to risk assessment using detailed human exposure information and the application of appropriate new (non-animal) toxicological testing approaches. Organ-on-chip presents a promising in vitro approach by combining human cell culturing with dynamic microfluidics to improve physiological emulation. Here, we critically review commercial organ-on-chip devices, as well as recent tissue culture model studies of the skin, intestinal barrier and liver as the main metabolic organ to be used on-chip for Next-Generation Risk Assessment. Finally, microfluidically linked tissue combinations such as skin-liver and intestine-liver in organ-on-chip devices are reviewed as they form a relevant aspect for advancing toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic studies. We point to recent achievements and challenges to overcome, to advance non-animal, human-relevant safety studies.
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