Cytokine-Mediated Inflammation In The Colon Intestine-Chip

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses disorders characterized by chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract with enduring impacts on patients' health. The costs of the management and treatment of these diseases are substantial, yet therapeutic relief often falls short. There is a pressing need for novel models to study intestinal barrier function to enhance the clinical translation of new drugs.

The advent of Organs-on-Chips technology has paved the way for the development of the Colon Intestine-Chip, which emulates in vivo physiological responses. Here, we present data demonstrating the Colon Intestine-Chip closely mimics in vivo relevant responses consistent with barrier disruption when inducing inflammation through interferon gamma (IFN-γ) administration, which can then be treated with anti-inflammatory therapeutics. Furthermore, our findings reveal concentration-dependent increases in epithelial permeability in the presence of the cytokine interleukin 22 (IL-22). Collectively, these results showcase the Colon Intestine-Chip as a viable preclinical model for investigating barrier disruption to facilitate enhanced clinical translation.