Developing a Novel in vitro Model of the Fallopian Tube

Abstract

The fallopian tube is the site of fertilization, ectopic pregnancy, and ovarian cancer initiation; however, experimental models remain limited. Here, we propose to develop a novel in vitro model of the fallopian tube by integrating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a renewable, patient-specific source of fallopian tube epithelium with an engineered device that patterns a tubular lumen for downstream disease studies. We have modified an existing protocol to differentiate iPSCs towards the fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) and found that 3D culture generates cells expressing FTE markers, though a heterogenous population. Optimizing signaling factors early on in specification resulted in less off-target differentiation and expression of markers associated with mullerian duct epithelium by day 7. In parallel, immortalized FTE were seeded into a PDMS device containing a 3 mm lumen, where cells adhered and remained viable for over a week. A second, collagen-based free-standing lumen is being explored to support longer-term maintenance and enable future co-culture experiments. Ultimately, the integration of iPSC-derived FTE and engineering has the potential to provide a modular, human-relevant system for studying the fallopian tube in a controlled setting.