Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Urology Department, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Nat Commun. 2024 May 29;15(1):4578. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-48910-0.
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.
甾体激素和共生微生物组对宫颈的调节在女性生殖道健康中起着核心作用。在这里,我们描述了器官芯片(Organ Chip)模型,该模型通过具有功能性上皮屏障的人宫颈上皮-基质界面的重建,并产生具有类似于活体宫颈的生化和激素反应特性的黏液。当将 Cervix 芯片接种最佳健康的与失调的微生物群落(分别由乳酸杆菌 crispatus 和加德纳菌 vaginalis 主导)时,观察到组织固有免疫反应、屏障功能、细胞活力、蛋白质组和黏液组成的显著差异,这些差异与体内观察到的相似。因此,人宫颈器官芯片代表了具有生理相关性的体外模型,可用于研究宫颈生理学和宿主-微生物组相互作用,因此可作为开发治疗干预措施以增强女性健康的临床前试验台。