Feng Laboratory
PFAS and Reproductive Health
Welcome to the Feng Lab!
Our research focuses on understanding and preventing pregnancy complications, especially those linked to placental development. By identifying early risk factors and developing new biomarkers, we aim to improve outcomes for mothers and babies affected by conditions like preeclampsia and stillbirth.
Our lab utilizes model systems from human trophoblast cells, stem cells, and placental tissue to mice, rats, and rabbits. Through these models we can study how factors like inflammation, cell aging, and environmental exposures affect the placenta. Through partnerships with the Duke global health institute and other departmental collaborations, we also work to improve maternal health worldwide, mentoring future researchers and advocating for better pregnancy outcomes.
1) Studies of the Impact of perinatal PFAS exposure on placental function and early programming of fetal development
Background:
PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals, known for their strong fluorine-carbon bonds which make them extremely stable and resistant to degradation. They are widely used in consumer products as stain, water, and grease repellents in carpets, upholstery, clothing, nonstick surfaces, cosmetics, and firefighter foams. PFAS widespread contamination is now considered a global public health crisis.
Our Goals:
The Feng Lab aims to identify mechanistic links between altered placental function, fetal growth, and adult health, placental-fetal signaling in modulating fetal immune and brain development.
2) Studies of the roles of placental molecular signals in reproduction and neurobehavioral development in offspring using placental specific knockout mouse models
Background:
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is one of the causes of female infertility. Unexplained POI is increasingly affecting women in their reproductive years. However, the etiology of POI is diverse and remains elusive. We and others have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in adult ovarian function
Proper extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) invasion is essential for normal placentation and pregnancy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) differentiate into EVTs are unclear. We discovered that in the first trimester placentae, PGRMC2 was highly expressed in syncytiotrophoblast (STB) but significantly lower in EVTs and CTBs, indicating a divergent role for PGRMC2 in trophoblast functions.
Our Goals:
Our goals are to present a novel role of BDNF in the Developmental Origins of POI and examine the role of PGRMC2 in extravillous trophoblasts invasion mediated by both intracellular and extracellular signals
