Mitochondrial Transfer to Lung Epithelial Cells using Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)
Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We are interested in utilizing the transfer of healthy mitochondria to injured lung epithelial cells using EVs. We will explore if this transfer can be further optimized by engineering the specificity of the EVs for the lung cells.
Recycling of Extracellular Vesicles in the Lung Epithelium
EV trafficking into cells, including lung epithelial cells includes not only binding and entry of EVs into cells but also release back out into the extracellular environment. This project will consider this recycling of EVs. Do these recycled EVs consist of repackaging of the source EVs originally trafficked into the lung epithelial cell or are EVs recycled without processing or do the contain cargo from both the internalized EV and the lung epithelial cell? And, lastly, are mitochondria transferred as cargo during this process.