A Gut-Brain Axis-on-a-Chip for studying transport across epithelial and
endothelial barriers
Abstract
Recent research on Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) has suggested that the gut
luminal environment, including the dietary components and commensal
microbiota, could affect behavior, emotion, and cognitive abilities in
the brain. The research on GBA has heavily relied on animal models,
which makes the research challenging. Recent advances in organ-on-a-chip
technology could be a solution for GBA research. In present work, we
developed a modular microfluidic chip, where gut epithelial and brain
endothelial cells were co-cultured to form the gut epithelial barrier
and the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). Cell responses to microbial
byproducts were examined by TEER measurement for each barrier, and we
observed the transport of fluorescently labeled exosome across the gut
barrier towards the BBB. Our results suggest this model can be used as a
novel in vitro model of GBA for studying the interaction between the gut
and the brain.