Abstract

On-Chip Adipocyte Culture

Yunxiao Liu, Scientist, A*STAR's Institute of Microelectronics

A perfusion chip which allows adipocyte culture under constant-flow was developed. The on-chip differentiated adipocyte response to stimulation of insulin and TNF-alpha, demonstrating the capbility to recaptulate the physiology in vivo. The prevalence of obesity is increasing dramatically around the world. Accumulation of lipid in the adipose tissue of obese body may lead to the development of insulin resistance (IR). Characterized by the impaired responsiveness to insulin, IR may precede to the development of type II diabetes mellitus. 1 Adipocytes have been found to play a significant role in maintaining whole-body glucose homeostasis. 2 Studies in metabolic function of adipocytes are imperative. However, conventional methods focus on in vitro adipocyte culture on cell culture plate under static conditions, which have limitations in representing in vivo, biological conditions. We have developed a perfusion chip which allows adipocyte culture under constant-flow systems. Human primary preadipocytes were first cultured on chip. It was found that under perfusion conditions primary preadipocytes growth was promoted on chip. Once cell confluence was reached, differentiation was started via Adipocyte Differentiation Medium. When stimulated with insulin, mature adipocyte increased glucose uptake. On-chip differentiated adipocytes also response to stimulation of tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), increasing the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and inducing impairment in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. The chip system will be used to study adipocyte-immune cell interactions in the future.