Microfluidic vessel-on-chip platform for investigation of cellular defects in venous malformations and responses to various shear stress and flow conditions

Abstract

A novel microfluidic platform was designed to study the cellular architecture of endothelial cells (ECs) in an environment replicating the 3D organization and flow of blood vessels. In particular, the platform was constructed to investigate EC defects in slow-flow venous malformations (VMs) under varying shear stress and flow conditions. The platform featured a standard microtiter plate footprint containing 32 microfluidic units capable of replicating wall shear stress (WSS) in normal veins and enabling precise control of shear stress and flow directionality without the need for complex pumping systems. Using genetically engineered human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived ECs (iECs) to express the recurrent TIE2^L914F VM mutation we assessed responses on EC orientation and area, actin organization, and Golgi polarization to uni- and bidirectional flow and varying WSS. Comparison of control and TIE2^L914F expressing ECs showed differential cellular responses to flow and WSS in terms of cell shape elongation, orientation of F-actin, and Golgi polarization, indicating altered mechanosensory or mechanotransduction signaling pathways in the presence of the VM causative mutation. The data also revealed significant differences in how the primary and iPSC-derived iECs responded to flow. As a conclusion, the developed microfluidic platform allowed simulation of multiple flow conditions in a scalable and pumpless format. The design made it a desirable tool for studying different EC types as well as cellular changes in vascular disease. The platform should offer new opportunities for biomechanical research by providing a controlled environment to analyze the flow-dependent mechanosensory pathways in ECs.