Current Students
Neurodegenerative disease is a cause of progressive neuronal cell loss. As the lack of validated animal models makes it difficult to study neurodegeneration, the foremost objective of my study is to establish an effective in vitro neurodegenerative model system. Several studies have revealed the role of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their secretome in rescuing neurodegeneration. Moreover, priming of MSCs to enhance their immunomodulatory function is a growing area of research. Hence the focus of my study is to evaluate the salutary effect of primed MSC secretome on the established neurodegenerative model system.
Efficacious ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is a prerequisite for HSC transplantation in individuals with hematological disorders. Cytokine and HSC-supportive factors secreted by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are required for HSC growth and maintenance. Hence, MSCs are used in laboratories and clinics to improve the functionality of HSCs. The concern with this approach is that MSCs inevitably acquire a senescent phenotype after long-term ex vivo expansion, causing them to lose their HSC-supporting capacity. Hence the focus of my work is to rejuvenate ex vivo expanded MSCs with pharmacological compounds to enhance their HSC supportive functionality. I also aim to study the effect of secretome derived from such rejuvenated MSCs for ex vivo expansion of HSCs and enhancing their in vivo engraftment ability.
Despite extensive research into the design of biomaterials for cartilage reconstruction, there is still a need for the development of materials that have sufficient mechanical conformity to work synergistically with healthy cartilage and subchondral bone while remaining soft enough to allow tissue incorporation. My research focuses on the development of effective and cost-effective biomaterials-based strategies for the treatment of damaged and diseased organs and tissues, with a particular emphasis on cartilage tissue regeneration. My work involves designing and synthesizing bioinspired biomaterials that mimic the native microenvironment and then assess the efficacy of these novel scaffolds for improved chondrogenesis.
Polycomb group proteins and other proteins catalyze various histone modifications to regulate gene expression, while other proteins remove these modifications. Our group and others have shown that H2AK119ub1 catalyzed by Polycomb Repressive Complex I (PRC1) plays a crucial role in gene regulation during neuronal lineage specification in human pluripotent stem cells. The H2AK119ub1 mark is erased by histone H2A deubiquitinases that counteract the gene repression by PRC1. There are only about nine are histone H2A deubiquitinases namely USP3, USP12, USP16, USP21, USP22, USP44, BAP1, MYSM1 and BRCC36 and there are only few reports of these in hematopoietic stem cells. However, there are no reports of histone H2A deubiquitinases in neuronal lineage specification from human pluripotent stem cells. I aim to study the expression of histone H2A deubiquitinases in during neuronal differentiation, as well as study the effects of shRNA-mediated knockdown of H2A- DUBs on neuronal differentiation.
Project summary:
Endometriosis is a chronic disease of the female genital tract characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, which leads to complications such as severe pelvic pain and infertility. Current treatment strategies provide only symptomatic relief as its aetiology remains unclear. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are histone modifiers that control the expression of genes involved in EMT and we speculate that their misregulation causes aberrant expression of EMT-related genes in endometriosis. Therefore, I aim to investigate whether PcG proteins occupy promoters of EMT- and fibrosis-associated genes in endometriotic tissue. The results of this study may help in identifying potential targets for treating endometriosis.
Project summary:
Vishakha’s project aims to understand the role of extracellular vesicles secreted by leukemic cells in modulating the bone marrow niche and also to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind this remodleing of the BM niche in such a way that supports leukemogenesis and suppress normal hematopoiesis.
Ms. Pankhudi Bhutada (SIU JRF 2022)
B.Sc. Biotechnology (Shri. Shivaji Science College, Amravati),
M.Sc. Biotechnology (Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Pune)
Research Interests: Neuro-protective influence of 3D biomaterial scaffolds on MSC secretome for Neuro-degenerative diseases
Project summary:
Project Neurodegenerative diseases urgently require advanced therapeutic strategies. My research addresses this by culturing mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in 3D biomaterial scaffolds to enhance their neuroprotective functions. We aim to assess the efficacy of the MSC secretome on a glutamate-induced neurotoxicity model system. By optimizing these 3D scaffolds, we aim to develop innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Ms Prachi Dighade (SIU JRF 2024)
Project summary:
I aim to develop next-generation functional biomaterials for bone tissue engineering, aiming to repair and regenerate damaged bone using advanced, bioactive scaffolds. By integrating natural polymers, bioactive cues, and biochemical cues, my research seeks to develop cost-effective composite scaffolds that mimic the structure and function of natural bone. These engineered materials are designed to promote cell growth, vascularization, and mineralized tissue formation, offering a promising alternative to traditional grafts, bridging the gap between laboratory and clinical application.
Alumni
Dr. Ketki Holkar (2018-2023)
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