Trust your gut: Establishing confidence in gastrointestinal models - An overview of the state of the science and contexts of use.

The webinar series and workshop titled “Trust Your Gut: Establishing Confidence in Gastrointestinal Models – An Overview of the State of the Science and Contexts of Use” was co-organized by NICEATM, NIEHS, FDA, EPA, CPSC, DoD, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) and hosted at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, USA on October 11-12, 2023. New approach methods (NAMs) for assessing issues of gastrointestinal tract (GIT)- related toxicity offer promise in addressing some of the limitations associated with animal-based assessments. GIT NAMs vary in complexity, from two-dimensional monolayer cell line-based systems to sophisticated 3-dimensional organoid systems derived from human primary cells.

Physiological Replication of the Human Glomerulus Using a Triple Culture Microphysiological System.

The function of the glomerulus depends on the complex cell-cell/matrix interactions and replication of this in vitro would aid biological understanding in both health and disease. Previous models do not fully reflect all cell types and interactions present as they overlook mesangial cells within their 3D matrix. Herein, the development of a microphysiological system that contains all resident renal cell types in an anatomically relevant manner is presented.

Circulating extracellular vesicles in human cardiorenal syndrome promote renal injury in a kidney-on-chip system.

BACKGROUNDCardiorenal syndrome (CRS) - renal injury during heart failure (HF) - is linked to high morbidity. Whether circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their RNA cargo directly impact its pathogenesis remains unclear.METHODSWe investigated the role of circulating EVs from patients with CRS on renal epithelial/endothelial cells using a microfluidic kidney-on-chip (KOC) model.