Experimental Models of Neonatal Diseases

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editors

Hala Chaaban

Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Section of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Dr. Chaaban is a neonatologist and physician-scientist at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. Her lab is working to identifying factors that influence the development and maturation of the small intestine in premature infants; and how they play a role in the pathogenesis of NEC. These include prenatal factors such as maternal demographics/pathologies, neonatal factors such as feeding practices, antibiotic use, and others. Using murine models of NEC, in-vitro culture models (enteroids), and human samples, Dr. Chaaban’s work aims to improve our understanding of NEC, develop reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis of NEC, and develop strategies that prevent this deadly disease.

Peter Vitiello

Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Section of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Dr. Vitiello is a molecular toxicologist with a research goal to understand redox-dependent regulation of molecular networks influencing cellular programming during tissue development and injury/repair processes. He specifically researches if thioredoxin antioxidants serve as molecular sensors of altered atmospheric oxygen tension in lung epithelial and retinal vascular cells during bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) respectively. BPD and ROP are both oxidative diseases associated with oxygen therapy in preterm infants. Dr. Vitiello also investigates how mitochondrial antioxidants regulate redox signaling and mitochondrial function during pathogenesis of Friedreich’s Ataxia, a degenerative neuromuscular disease primarily diagnosed during adolescence. Using a variety of genetic, molecular, proteomic, and cellular approaches, the Vitiello laboratory hopes to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to predict, ameliorate, and prevent the life-long burden of neonatal & pediatric oxidative diseases.

Collection Overview

Determining the molecular basis of neonatal diseases is complex since it requires consideration for intrauterine and early perinatal factors during critical developmental stages necessary to support life outside the womb. Disease etiology is further complicated by preterm birth since incomplete development of fetal systems in preparation for parturition could require clinical intervention (e.g., ventilation, oxygen, nutrition, etc.) to prevent mortality; however, this may also introduce additional risks. In order to have a better understanding of the developmental origins of neonatal disease, researchers need reliable experimental models to examine independent and interactive influences of genetic & environmental factors, as well as identify new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

The goal of this Methods Collection is to provide detailed descriptions of cell- and animal-based experimental models of neonatal complications and diseases including but not limited to: prematurity, resuscitation, congenital malformations, feeding intolerance, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis & sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia & respiratory distress syndrome, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cardiomyopathy of prematurity, meconium aspiration syndrome, inborn errors of metabolism, polycystic kidney disease, and neonatal abstinence syndrome.