Introducing organs-on-chips to the lymph system
Date:
March 9, 2022
Source:
Texas A&M University
Summary:
Currently, there is little research focused on understanding
mechanisms and drug discovery of lymphatic vascular
diseases. However, conditions such as lymphedema, a buildup of
fluid in the body when the lymph system is damaged, impact more
than 200,000 people every year in the United States alone.
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Currently, there is little research focused on understanding mechanisms
and drug discovery of lymphatic vascular diseases. However, conditions
such as lymphedema, a buildup of fluid in the body when the lymph system
is damaged, impact more than 200,000 people every year in the United
States alone.
==========================================================================
Dr. Abhishek Jain, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, has taken his expertise in
organ-on-chip models and applied them to a field they've never been used
in before, creating the first lymphangion-chip.
To engineer this new device, Jain's team first developed a new technique
to create microfluidic cylindrical blood or lymphatic vessels consisting
of endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. It could then use
this technique to create a co-cultured multicellular lymphangion, the functional unit of a lymph vessel, and successfully recreate a typical
section of a lymphatic transport vessel in vitro, or outside the body.
"We can now better understand how mechanical forces regulate lymphatic physiology and pathophysiology," Jain said. "We can also understand
what are the mechanisms that result in lymphedema, and then we can
find new targets for drug discovery with this platform." The project
is in collaboration with Dr. David Zawieja from the Texas A&M College
of Medicine. Their research was published in the Jan. 7 issue of the
journal Lab on a Chip.
"Collaborations with Dr. Zawieja and others in the department played a
crucial role," Jain said. "They introduced me to this topic and provide
their longstanding expertise that has made it possible for us to create
this new organ-on-chip platform and now advance it in these exciting
directions using contemporary experimental models." Jain said the impact
of this work is far-reaching because there is a new hope for patients
with lymphatic diseases. They can now learn about the biology of these
diseases and reach a point where they can be treated.
"The most exciting part of this research is that it is allowing us to
now push the organ-on-chip in directions where finding cures for rare and orphan (understudied) diseases is possible with less effort and money,"
Jain said. "We can help the pharma industry to invest in this platform
and find a cure for lymphedema that impacts millions of people."
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Texas_A&M_University. Original written
by Jennifer Reiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Amirali Selahi, Teshan Fernando, Sanjukta Chakraborty, Mariappan
Muthuchamy, David C. Zawieja, Abhishek Jain. Lymphangion-chip:
a microphysiological system which supports co-culture and
bidirectional signaling of lymphatic endothelial and muscle
cells. Lab on a Chip, 2022; 22 (1): 121 DOI: 10.1039/D1LC00720C ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220309151723.htm
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