Research at UMCG: Mini Intestine-on-a-Chip Holds Key to Disease Study

Research at UMCG involves working with miniature versions of an organ. For example, during an intestinal examination. The so-called ‘darm-on-a-chip’ It’s actually a small intestine and it works just like a piece of intestine in humans. However, this is a small device that is no bigger than a USB stick. In the womb on a chip, researchers can study different diseases and try medicine, without patients being affected.

Minor organs

The activity of the organs on the chip is accurately simulated. Researchers Joram Mooiweer and Hanna Simpson from the Department of Genetics explain how this research method works: “On the chip we grow human cells and tissues that live, grow and respond to their environment. For example, you get a small piece of intestine or a small liver. The little organs are in little tubes in the chip.”

The micro-organs are kept in a pump that provides the same pressure as in the human body, such as during bowel movements. The small intestines are placed in a heated cabinet at 37 degrees Celsius, body temperature. In this way, the cells understand how to behave in a natural way. Fluids can also flow through the organs in these tubes. Consider, for example, blood, human food or bacteria.

Mini patients

Researchers can identify different diseases in the intestine on a slice to investigate
and to test medicine, without affecting patients. The mini-bellies-on-a-chip are real patients. In this way, researchers learn more about how diseases arise, which cells play a role and how these diseases can be prevented or treated. The sliced ​​intestine can also make a real bony object. Just like in the true intestine, the intestinal wall also contains intestinal villi and immune cells. These intestinal flakes are small products that ensure that food is digested properly.

Simulating the intestine with celiac disease

Mooiweer and Simpson are both researching celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disease in which patients develop inflammatory reactions in the small intestine when they eat gluten. By using an insect, they simulate the intestine of a patient with celiac disease. After that, it is investigated what exactly is happening in the gut and what causes patients to be hypersensitive to gluten.

Our intestines contain all kinds of bacteria that ensure you stay healthy, this is called the microbiome. In people with celiac disease, the composition of bacteria in the intestines is different, which makes them sick. By studying what makes someone sick, it may be possible to take preventive action by giving patients probiotics – healthy bacteria.