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Wednesday, 27 April 2022 09:41

Reutlingen: Innovative chip model to research obesity Featured

A team of researchers from the Natural and Medical Sciences Institute in Reutlingen (NMI), together with colleagues from the Medical Faculty of the Tübingen University as well as from the Fraunhofer Institute IGB, has developed an obesity model on a chip. The model is called Mix & Match and integrates all important cellular components that can also be found in human white adipose tissue.

To gain insights into the mechanisms of the (patho)physiology of adipose tissue, scientists traditionally use animal models, but their transferability to the human situation is questionable. Thus, the new model combines mature adipocytes (fat cells), endothelial barriers, stromal vascular cells, and adipose tissue-specific macrophages (immune cells) in a microfluidic platform.

As reported by Prof. Peter Loskill, head of the research group at the NMI, Mix & Match enables the simulation of adipose tissue-specific hormone release in addition to energy storage and mobilization and involves a wide variety of inflammatory processes.

The obesity-on-a-chip model is a powerful tool for studying human metabolism and related diseases, as well as for testing drugs and applications in the field of personalized medicine.

Original publication:
Rogal et al (2022). Autologous human immunocompetent white adipose tissue-on-chip. Advanced Science, 2104451, https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202104451

More information:
https://www.nmi.de/de/aktuell/aktuelles/detail/adipositas-on-chip-innovatives-modellsystem-zur-erforschung-von-fettleibigkeit/

 

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