Onze beursstudenten

Alessandra BOGGIAN

Project

Modeling fetal lungs using organoids: effects of insulin and pollution on lung development and pediatric diseases

Project supervisor

Labo of hospitaal waar het project plaatsvindt

IRIBHM-ULB

Objectives of research

Considering the prevalence of children’s respiratory conditions, this model offers a valuable tool for studying pediatric diseases like asthma, IPF, COPD, and cystic fibrosis, as well as the impact of pollution during lung development and on children’s lungs. This project will enhance our understanding of the insulin role and black carbons molecules (BCs) on lung development and children’s lungs.

Summary

The project involves the use of 3D lung organoids (LOs) derived from human embryonic cells to investigate pediatric respiratory disease and lung development, with a great focus on the impact of insulin and environmental pollutants. Firstly, LOs will be treated with insulin (INS) at different time points, which has already shown that it can mimic lung development both temporally and hierarchically. Several tests will be adopted to assess the role of INS and the inhibition of its receptor, and consequently all the activated signaling and metabolic pathways. Multiple histological, functional and molecular analyses will be conducted with this goal. The effect of environmental pollutants, in particular black carbons (BCs), on LOs will be examined using a bioreactor system and advanced imaging methods. In addition, the immune response to respiratory diseases is mimicked by coculturing LOs with monocytes. Overall, this project will establish a robust model to study lung development, pediatric lung diseases and the impact of pollution on children's lungs.