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An in vitro model of glucose and lipid metabolism in a multicompartmental bioreactor
Author(s) -
Vinci Bruna,
Murphy Ellen,
Iori Elisabetta,
Meduri Francesco,
Fattori Silvia,
Marescotti Maria Cristina,
Castagna Maura,
Avogaro Angelo,
Ahluwalia Arti
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.144
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1860-7314
pISSN - 1860-6768
DOI - 10.1002/biot.201100177
Subject(s) - adipose tissue , metabolism , lipid metabolism , hepatocyte , biochemistry , in vitro , biology , carbohydrate metabolism , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology , metabolite , cell culture , chemistry , genetics
The energy balance in vivo is maintained through inter‐organ cross‐talk involving several different tissues. As a first step towards recapitulating the metabolic circuitry, hepatocytes, endothelial cells and adipose tissue were connected in a multicompartmental modular bioreactor to reproduce salient aspects of glucose and lipid metabolism in vitro. We first examined how the two‐way cellular interplay between adipose tissue and endothelial cells affects glucose and lipid metabolism. The hepatocyte cell line HepG2 was then added to the system, creating a three‐way connected culture, to determine whether circulating metabolite concentrations were normalized, or whether metabolic shifts, which may arise when endothelial cells and adipose tissue are placed in connection, were corrected. The addition of hepatocytes to the system prevented the drop in the concentrations of glucose, L ‐alanine and lactate, and the rise in that of free fatty acids. There was no significant change in glycerol levels in either of the connected cultures. The results show that connected cultures recapitulate complex physiological systemic processes, such as glucose and lipid metabolism, and that the HepG2 hepatocytes normalize circulating metabolites in this in vitro environment in the presence of other cell types.