A vascularized liver microphysiological system captures key features of hepatic insulin resistance and monocyte infiltration.

ABSTRACT: In vitro models can recapitulate aspects of human liver diseases, thereby aiding therapeutic development. Dynamic interactions with vascular and immune cells contribute to disease progression in ways that are challenging to capture in the hepatic spheroid models commonly used for assessing facets of metabolism and disease. To address this, we developed a microphysiological system (MPS) featuring multicellular human hepatic spheroids physically integrated with self-organized microvascular networks. We demonstrate this MPS's utility by modeling an insulin resistance state, where chronic exposure to disease-mimetic conditions yields altered hepatocyte metabolism, dysregulated vascular features, and increased inflammation state. We extend this system to capture disease-relevant changes in immu

SUBMITTER: Tevonian EN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12868780 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature