New Podcast Episode. Building a Better Barrier: Modeling the Human gut Epithelium

The human intestinal epithelial barrier comprises diverse proliferative, secretory and absorptive cell types that facilitate nutrient digestion and absorption and protect against harmful environmental agents. The barrier and its function can vary between individuals due to genetic differences thus impact processes such as digestion, drug metabolism, and drug sensitivity. Our guests today investigated the effect of diverse culture conditions on the cell type composition, gene expression profiles, and maturation status of human pluripotent stem cell-derived intestinal epithelial cells in three different model systems. Their research provides insight into the relevant conditions and systems for modeling specific intestinal functions and highlights the importance of personalized intestinal model systems. 

Guests

• Sebo Withoff, Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Netherlands

• Iris Jonkers, Adjunct Professor and Rosalind Franklin Fellow, Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Netherlands

• Renée Moerkens, Postdoctoral Fellow, Ombion, Netherlands

• Joram Mooiweer, Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Netherlands

Supporting Content
Paper link: Gene expression profiling reveals enhanced nutrient and drug metabolism and maturation of hiPSC-derived intestine-on-chip relative to organoids and Transwells, Stem Cell Reports