Patient-derived pancreas-on-a-chip to model cystic fibrosis-related disorders

Nat Commun. 2019 Jul 16;10(1):3124. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11178-w.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder caused by defective CF Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) function. Insulin producing pancreatic islets are located in close proximity to the pancreatic duct and there is a possibility of impaired cell-cell signaling between pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) and islet cells as causative in CF. To study this possibility, we present an in vitro co-culturing system, pancreas-on-a-chip. Furthermore, we present an efficient method to micro dissect patient-derived human pancreatic ducts from pancreatic remnant cell pellets, followed by the isolation of PDECs. Here we show that defective CFTR function in PDECs directly reduced insulin secretion in islet cells significantly. This uniquely developed pancreatic function monitoring tool will help to study CF-related disorders in vitro, as a system to monitor cell-cell functional interaction of PDECs and pancreatic islets, characterize appropriate therapeutic measures and further our understanding of pancreatic function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coculture Techniques / methods
  • Cystic Fibrosis / pathology
  • Cystic Fibrosis / physiopathology*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / therapy
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / physiopathology*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Male
  • Microdissection
  • Organoids
  • Pancreatic Ducts / cytology
  • Pancreatic Ducts / pathology
  • Primary Cell Culture / methods

Substances

  • CFTR protein, human
  • Insulin
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator