Exploring the Gut–Joint Axis: Highlights from the 3rd ENDOTARGET Webinar

On April 2nd, 2026, the ENDOTARGET project hosted its 3rd webinar, titled “Modeling the Gut–Joint Axis: Organ-on-Chip Approaches for Chronic Inflammation.” Held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CEST, the session brought together leading researchers and experts to explore how cutting-edge organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies are transforming the way we study chronic inflammatory diseases. With three insightful presentations and interactive virtual roundtables, the webinar provided a comprehensive overview of how microphysiological systems can help unravel the complex relationship between the gut, immune system, and joint health.

 Organ-on-a-chip developments within ENDOTARGET

The session opened with a presentation by Dr. Martin Frauenlob and Dr. Mario Rothbauer from TU Wien, both partners in the ENDOTARGET project. Their talk, “Organ-on-a-chip developments within ENDOTARGET,” provided an overview of how OoC technologies are being integrated into the project’s research framework. A key message was the importance of recreating realistic tissue environments to better understand how inflammation develops and persists over time. By combining engineering, biology, and clinical insights, ENDOTARGET is building platforms that allow researchers to observe disease mechanisms in ways that were not previously possible.

How do tissue microenvironments influence intestinal diseases?

The second presentation, delivered by Dr. Nathalie Sauvonnet from Institut Pasteur in Paris, focused on “Tissue microenvironments & intestinal pathologies.” Her talk highlighted the complexity of the human gut and the importance of its physical and biological environment. The intestine is not a static structure, it is a dynamic 3D barrier constantly exposed to mechanical forces such as stretching and fluid flow. At the same time, it interacts continuously with a diverse microbial ecosystem. Using OoC models that replicate these conditions, Dr. Sauvonnet and her team demonstrated how pathogens such as Shigella can exploit gut architecture and motion to enhance invasion, increase virulence, and disrupt the intestinal barrier. At the same time, her research showed that beneficial microbial metabolites can have protective effects. An important innovation presented was the development of an inflammation-on-a-chip model incorporating patient-derived immune cells. This system successfully reproduced key features of inflammatory bowel disease and revealed how specific microbial signals can help reduce inflammation. Overall, the presentation illustrated how OoC models can capture the complex interplay between mechanics, microbes, and immune responses in the gut.

Can we model the gut–joint connection on a chip?

The final presentation by Dr. Alan Li Zhong from The Chinese University of Hong Kong took the concept one step further. In his talk, “Microbe–gut–cartilage axis-on-a-chip,” he introduced a multi-organ-on-a-chip system that connects gut and cartilage models. This innovative platform integrates a gut microbiome module and cartilage organoids. Using this system, Dr. Zhong and his team were able to identify microbiome-derived metabolites that promote cartilage formation (chondro-promotive effects) and protect cartilage from damage (chondroprotective effects). The study also helped uncover the signalling pathways responsible for these beneficial effects, providing new insights into how gut-derived molecules influence joint health. This work demonstrates the potential of organ-on-a-chip systems to study long-distance interactions between organs, identify new therapeutic targets, and support the development of personalised regenerative medicine approaches for conditions like osteoarthritis.

Virtual roundtables

Following the presentations, participants had the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers through two virtual breakout sessions.

• Breakout Session 1 featured Dr. Martin Frauenlob and Dr. Nathalie Sauvonnet
• Breakout Session 2 was led by Dr. Mario Rothbauer and Dr. Alan Li Zhong

These sessions provided a more informal setting for discussion, allowing participants to ask questions, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. The interactive format fostered valuable dialogue and highlighted the strong interest in organ-on-a-chip approaches within the research community.

 

The 3rd ENDOTARGET webinar provided an inspiring overview of how innovative technologies are reshaping our understanding of inflammation. By combining OoC systems with insights into the gut microbiome and immune regulation, researchers are uncovering new mechanisms that link gut health to joint disease. As this field continues to advance, it holds great promise for developing more effective and targeted strategies to prevent and treat chronic inflammatory conditions.