Home Department: Human Biology
Mentor: Christin Kuo (Pediatrics - Pulmonary Medicine)

“Investigating the Molecular Stages of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine (NEC) Cell Development with Lineage Labeling of NEC Progenitors"

Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are rare cells that express diverse neuropeptides and have many physiologic functions. It has been found that PNECs cluster at airway branch points and form neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs). Increased numbers of NEBs have been associated with a plethora of rare infant respiratory disorders, such as neuroendocrine hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Due to limited knowledge regarding the development of neuroendocrine cells, and how improper development leads to several diseases, Massiel will be investigating the molecular stages of neuroendocrine cell development using a mouse model to lineage label neuroendocrine cell progenitors.