Embryonic zebrafish xenograft model
Zebrafish embryos are good vectors for various human cells. The engrafted human cells can be easily observed under microscopes through the highly transparent bodies of the embryos. This model can be easily generated with a microinjection system and simple zebrafish husbandry. It can be used as a rapid cancer diagnostic method in biomedical research. It can be also developed into high-throughput drug screening and toxicity assessment tools. Oyster cell culture
Shellfishes are also good models for environmental toxicological studies. Oysters are used in the LEH for this purpose. Beside using the oyster individuals for ecotoxicity assessment, we also utilize the primary cell cultures from different tissues of the oyster. The two major types of oyster cells used in our lab are cardiomyocytes (CvCMs), which are isolated from the heart of Crassostrea virginica, and the epithelial cells (CvMEs) cultured from the mantle tissue of C. virginica. The CvCMs have been used to evaluate the toxic effects of an fungicide in agriculture while the CvMEs are applied to understand the environmental effects on the bivalve shell formation. |
Three-dimensional human skin cell culture model
Instead of culturing skin keratinocytes in two-dimensional plates, we induce kertinocytes to form multiple layers simulating the stratified squamous epithelial structure of skin epidermis. The stratified keratinocyte culture can be grown on top of various matrices, such as medium, collagen, or acellular dermis. Dermal fibroblast and other stromal cells can be also seeded in the matrices as a co-culture of the keratinocytes. This model can be used to build a skin-on-a-chip platform for the studies of skin diseases and environmental toxicology. Mouse skin diseases and skin cancer models
Many environmental pollutants can be accumulated on human skin. Some chemical compounds in these pollutants can penetrate the surface barrier and absorbed by the skin keratinocytes. The toxicities of these chemicals can cause skin irritation, which ultimately results in the inflammatory skin diseases. In some severe cases, chemicals initiate skin cancers through the mutagenic effects on skin cells. Similar symptoms can be created on our mouse models to provide in vivo tools for the studies in the pathogenic effects of environmental pollutants. These models also help us develop strategies to protect our skin from the toxicities of the pollutants. |