Engineering Microphysiological Immune System Responses on Chips

Chris P Miller; Woojung Shin; Eun Hyun Ahn; Hyun Jung Kim; Deok-Ho Kim

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.01.003

Engineering Microphysiological Immune System Responses on Chips

Trends Biotechnol. 2020 Aug;38(8):857-872. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.01.003. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Authors

Chris P Miller¹, Woojung Shin², Eun Hyun Ahn³, Hyun Jung Kim⁴, Deok-Ho Kim⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Medical Engineering, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Tissues- and organs-on-chips are microphysiological systems (MPSs) that model the architectural and functional complexity of human tissues and organs that is lacking in conventional cell monolayer cultures. While substantial progress has been made in a variety of tissues and organs, chips recapitulating immune responses have not advanced as rapidly. This review discusses recent progress in MPSs for the investigation of immune responses. To illustrate recent developments, we focus on two cases in point: immunocompetent tumor microenvironment-on-a-chip devices that incorporate stromal and immune cell components and pathomimetic modeling of human mucosal immunity and inflammatory crosstalk. More broadly, we discuss the development of systems immunology-on-a-chip devices that integrate microfluidic engineering approaches with high-throughput omics measurements and emerging immunological applications of MPSs.

Keywords: engineering immune system responses; immune system-on-a-chip; intestinal inflammation; microphysiological systems; systems immunology; tumor immune microenvironment.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Immune System
Immunity / genetics*
Immunity / immunology
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
Microfluidics
Neoplasms / genetics
Neoplasms / immunology*
Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding