Research Overview | The Chen Lab at the Marsico Lung Institute

Respiratory Epithelial Progenitors in Injury and Repair in Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Airway and alveolar epithelial cells were labeled with TdTomato (red) and ZgGreen (green), respectively, and bronchioalveolar stem cells were labeled with yellow (red+green) fluorescent color in the triple lineage tracing system.

Application of triple lineage reporter system in studying epithelial progenitors of alveolar regeneration in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection

How Does Epithelial ER Stress Lead to Pulmonary Fibrosis?

A figure detailing the difference in cell types and movements both chronic diseased lungs and normal lungs in terminal bronchioles.

We are investigating how activation of ER stress leads to excessive MUC5B production in the distal airways that promotes persistence of KRT8+ intermediate stem cell state and the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

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STAT3 Regulates Mucociliary Clearance in the Airway Epithelia

A figure detailing the expression of STAT3 in ciliated cells, mucin secretory c ells, and basal cells, as well as club secretory cells. STAT3 impacts the function of the CFTR channel.

STAT3 is required for coordinated cilia (from ciliated cell) and CFTR (from secretory cell) activities to maintain normal mucociliary clearance in airway epithelium. We are studying the role of mutant STAT3 (presented in the Job’s syndrome) in contributing both cilia and CFTR-dependent abnormalities that lead to failed mucociliary clearance in the lung, the major cause of chronic pulmonary infection in Job’s syndrome patients. PCL: periciliary layer

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Generation of in vitro Airway Epithelial Cell Culture Models

A fluorescent microscopy image of mouse airway cells staining tissues with purple, green, and red dyes.

We aim to generate upper and lower airway epithelial cultures from animal models in vitro. Using conditional reprogramming culture method followed by optimized differentiation protocols, we have developed models for mucus farming, studying ciliogenesis and mucociliary clearance.