Basic Sciences

Lung Pathophysiology: (SR Seidner, DC McCurnin, AG Moreira, SB Mustafa)

  • Regulation of surfactant expression during lung development and injury
  • Functional properties of stem cells during lung disease
  • Respiratory mechanical functions in neonatal lung disease
  • Sodium channel function

Pertinent Publications:

1.      Effects of mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned media on measures of lung structure and function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Moreira A, Naqvi R, Hall K, Emukah C, Martinez J, Moreira A, Dittmar E, Zoretic S, Evans M, Moses D, and Mustafa SB. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2020 Sep 15;11(1):399. doi: 10.1186/s13287-020-01900-7. PMID: 32933584

2.      Comparison of preterm and Term Wharton’s Jelly-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Properties in differing Oxygen Tensions. Balgi-Agarwal S, Winter C, Corral A, Mustafa SB, Hornsby P, and Moreira A. Cells Tissues Organs. 205(3):137-150, 2018

3.      Upcycling umbilical cords: bridging regenerative medicine with neonatology. Moreira A, Alayli Y, Balgi S, Winter C, Kahlenberg S, Mustafa SB, Hornsby P.  The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2017, DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1405387

4.      IL-1 promotes α-epithelial Sodium Channel (α-ENaC) expression in murine lung epithelial cells: involvement of NF-κB. Shamimunisa B. Mustafa, Tania F. Hernandez, Teresa L. Johnson-Pais, Pratap A. Kumar, Jean A. Petershack, Barbara M. Henson, Steven R. Seidner. Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, 2019

5.      Oxygen and mechanical ventilation impede the functional properties of resident lung mesenchymal stromal cells. Alvaro G. Moreira, Sartaj K. Siddiqui, Rolando Macias, Teresa L. Johnson-Pais, Desiree Wilson, Jonathon A. L. Gelfond, Margarita M. Vasquez, Steven R. Seidner, Shamimunisa B. Mustafa. PLoS ONE 15(3): e0229521. 2020

6.      IgA modulates respiratory dysfunction as a sequela to pulmonary chlamydial infection as neonates. Lanka GK; Yu JJ; Gong S; Gupta R; Mustafa SB; Murthy AK; Zhong G; Chambers JP; Guentzel MN; Arulanandam BP. Pathogens and Disease. 74(3), 2016

Insulin Signaling Pathways and Metabolic Studies: (CL Blanco, SR Seidner, DC McCurnin).

  • Developmental regulation of key gluconeogenic molecules
  • Ontogeny of pancreatic development
  • Antenatal corticosteroids and insulin effector molecules in a premature model
  • Insulin sensitivity and metabolic disruption in prematurity

Pertinent Publications:

1.      Prematurity disrupts glomeruli development, whereas prematurity and hyperglycemia lead to altered nephron maturation and increased oxidative stress in newborn baboons. Callaway DA; McGill-Vargas LL; Quinn A; Jordan JL; Winter LA; Anzueto D; Dick EJ Jr; Blanco CL. Pediatric Research. 83(3):702-711, 2018

2.      Peripheral insulin resistance and impaired insulin signaling contribute to abnormal glucose metabolism in preterm baboons. Blanco CL; McGill-Vargas LL; Gastaldelli A; Seidner SR; McCurnin DC; Leland MM; Anzueto DG; Johnson MC; Liang H; DeFronzo RA; Musi N. Endocrinology. 156(3):813-23, 2015

3.      Developmental regulation of key gluconeogenic molecules in nonhuman primates. McGill-Vargas LL; Johnson-Pais T; Johnson MC; Blanco CL. Physiological Reports. 2(12), 2014

4.      The ontogeny of the endocrine pancreas in the fetal/newborn baboon. Quinn AR, Blanco CL, Perego C, Finzi G, La Rossa S, Capella C, Guardado-Mendoza R, Casiraghi F, Gastaldelli A, Johnson M, Dick EJ, Folli F. J Endocrinology 2012 Sep;14(3):289-299.

5.      Antenatal corticosteroids alter insulin signaling pathways in fetal baboon skeletal muscle. Blanco CL; Moreira AG; McGill-Vargas LL; Anzueto DG; Nathanielsz P; Musi N.  Journal of Endocrinology. 221(2):253-60, 2014

6.      Hyperglycemia Increases the Risk of Death in Extremely Preterm Baboons. Blanco CL, McGill-Vargas L, McCurnin D, Quinn A. Pediatric Research 2013 Mar;73(3):337-343.

7.      Effects of intravenous AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboximide riboside) administration on insulin signaling and resistance in premature baboons. Blanco CL, Gastaldelli A, Anzueto DG, Winter LA, Seidner SR, McCurnin DC, Liang H, Javors MA, DeFronzo RA, Musi N. PLoS One;13(12): e0208757. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208757. 2018.

Resources and Core Service Facilities for Basic Science Studies:

  • Laboratories equipped for molecular biology and cellular physiology experimentation, cell culture, and WB/PCR analysis
  • Separate laboratory for small/preterm animal ventilation (capable of ventilating 20 premature animals simultaneously)
  • Access to core facilities including Genomics, Proteomics, Optical and Electron microscopy imaging, and Flow cytometry