Development of a Microfluidic Organotypic Model to Evaluate Monocyte Transendothelial Migration to the Joint in Obese Osteoarthritic Patients

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the fastest growing cause of disability worldwide due to population ageing and increasing obesity incidence. Obese individuals have a higher risk of OA insurgence and severe progression due to several risk factors, including their systemic inflammation state and superior migratory ability of monocytes. In the present project we aim at the development of a novel 3D microfluidic organotypic model resembling the joint to investigate the migration ability of monocytes from obese and non-obese OA patients.

We hypothesize that monocytes from obese OA patients display superior migration ability and a specific pattern of chemokine surface receptors compared to monocytes from non-obese OA patients. We also hypothesize that these features lead to a superior infiltration of monocytes/macrophages to the synovial membrane in obese OA patients. Based on this, our main aim will be to highlight differences between Mo from obese and non-obese OA patients in terms of surface receptors and migration ability in a microfluidic organotypic model.