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Researcher

Dirk Adriaensen

  • Research Expertise:Experimental lung research focused on structure (from organ to molecular level), function and potential pathology of strongly innervated groups of neuroendocrine cells (neuroepithelial bodies; NEBs) in the airway epithelium of lab animal and human lungs. Development of an ex vivo lung slice model for functional 'live cell imaging' of NEBs, but also of virtually any other cell and tissue type in the lungs. We could already demonstrate that NEBs and their microenvironment serve as sensory airway receptors for both chemical and mechanical stimuli, but also as a specific niche for a unique population of postnatal airway epithelial stem cells. Research now focusses on the silencing and potential activation mechanisms of these intriguing stem cells, and on their possible link with the development of small cell lung carcinomas.
  • Keywords:LUNG INJURY, NEURO-ENDOCRINAL CELLS, MICROSCOPY, LUNG PHYSIOLOGY, LIVE CELL IMAGING, MOUSE MODELS, LUNG TISSUE, EXPERIMENTAL STUDY, Medicine
  • Disciplines:Animal cell and molecular biology, Animal morphology, anatomy and physiology, Cell signalling, Gastro-enterology, Stem cell biology, Cytology, Histology, Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, Cell physiology, Organ physiology, Respiratory medicine
  • Research techniques:A wide range of microscopic techniques; cell and molecular biology techniques; development of in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models.
  • Users of research expertise:Especially other researchers in medical, biomedical and biological domains.