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- Title
Mucus production, host-microbiome interactions, hormone sensitivity, and innate immune responses modeled in human cervix chips.
- Authors
Izadifar, Zohreh; Cotton, Justin; Chen, Siyu; Horvath, Viktor; Stejskalova, Anna; Gulati, Aakanksha; LoGrande, Nina T.; Budnik, Bogdan; Shahriar, Sanjid; Doherty, Erin R.; Xie, Yixuan; To, Tania; Gilpin, Sarah E.; Sesay, Adama M.; Goyal, Girija; Lebrilla, Carlito B.; Ingber, Donald E.
- Abstract
Modulation of the cervix by steroid hormones and commensal microbiome play a central role in the health of the female reproductive tract. Here we describe organ-on-a-chip (Organ Chip) models that recreate the human cervical epithelial-stromal interface with a functional epithelial barrier and production of mucus with biochemical and hormone-responsive properties similar to living cervix. When Cervix Chips are populated with optimal healthy versus dysbiotic microbial communities (dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and Gardnerella vaginalis, respectively), significant differences in tissue innate immune responses, barrier function, cell viability, proteome, and mucus composition are observed that are similar to those seen in vivo. Thus, human Cervix Organ Chips represent physiologically relevant in vitro models to study cervix physiology and host-microbiome interactions, and hence may be used as a preclinical testbed for development of therapeutic interventions to enhance women's health. Human cervical mucosa and its interactions with the microbiome play a central role in female reproductive tract health and disease. Here, the authors develop physiological models of the human cervix using Organ-on-a-Chip technology that produce mucus, and respond to hormonal, environmental, and microbial cues similar to the living cervix.
- Subjects
MUCUS; MICROPHYSIOLOGICAL systems; ORGANS (Anatomy); IMMUNE response; GENITALIA; PHYSIOLOGICAL models
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2024, Vol 15, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-024-48910-0