Controlling Microenvironments with Organs-on-Chips for Osteoarthritis Modelling.

Osteoarthritis (OA) remains a prevalent disease affecting more than 20% of the global population, resulting in morbidity and lower quality of life for patients. The study of OA pathophysiology remains predominantly in animal models due to the complexities of mimicking the physiological environment surrounding the joint tissue. Recent development in microfluidic organ-on-chip (OoC) systems have demonstrated various techniques to mimic and modulate tissue physiological environments.

Chronic dDAVP infusion in rats decreases the expression of P2Y2 receptor in inner medulla and P2Y2 receptor-mediated PGE2 release by IMCD.

Activation of P2Y2 receptor (P2Y2-R) in inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) of rat decreases AVP-induced water flow and releases PGE(2). We observed that dehydration of rats decreases the expression of P2Y2 receptor in inner medulla (IM) and P2Y2-R-mediated PGE(2) release by IMCD. Because circulating vasopressin (AVP) levels are increased in dehydrated condition, we examined whether chronic infusion of desmopressin (dDAVP) has a similar effect on the expression and activity of P2Y2-R.

P2Y2 receptor-mediated release of prostaglandin E2 by IMCD is altered in hydrated and dehydrated rats: relevance to AVP-independent regulation of IMCD function.

Circulating vasopressin levels change in hydrated and dehydrated conditions and thus control osmotic water permeability (P(f)) of the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) antagonizes vasopressin-induced P(f) of IMCD. Previously, we showed that activation of P2Y2 receptor (P2Y2-R) in IMCD results in production and release of PGE2, and P2Y2-R mRNA and protein are significantly elevated in inner medullas of hydrated rats compared with dehydrated rats.

P2Y2 receptor mRNA and protein expression is altered in inner medullas of hydrated and dehydrated rats: relevance to AVP-independent regulation of IMCD function.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP), acting through a cAMP second messenger system, regulates osmotic water permeability (Pf) of the collecting duct. In the collecting duct, the activities of cAMP and phosphonositides (PI) are mutually inhibitory. The P2Y2 receptor (P2Y2-R) is a G protein-coupled extracellular nucleotide receptor associated with PI signaling pathway.