Hi, I’m Monica Maselli, a PhD candidate at Utrecht University in the Division of Pharmacology. I’m originally from Italy, where I completed my Bachelor’s in Biotechnologies at University of Bari and my master’s in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies at the University of Trieste. During my academic journey I developed a strong interest in how cells work and how they form tissues. Now, under the supervision of Dr. Silvia Mihăilă, I’m excited to explore the fascinating world of kidney epithelial biology as part of a collaborative research environment.
The kidney plays a vital role in keeping our body in balance by filtering blood, taking back essential nutrients, and removing waste. These tasks are carried out by tiny functional units called nephrons, composed of a filtering unit and a tubular structure made of epithelial cells. These cells’ function depends on the precise placement of transporters and receptors on either the top (apical) or bottom (basolateral) sides of kidney cells.
A closer look into the kidney: starting from the whole organ, we zoom in to see one of its working parts called nephron. Then we go even closer to look how the tube of the nephron is organized in a tubular structure. Finally, we see how the cells look side by side, showing how the top and bottom of each cell are different to help the kidney do its job.
However, when these epithelial cells are grown in the lab using traditional methods, they often lose their natural structure and function, making it difficult to study how they work in the body. In my project, I investigate how outside signals, such as mechanical forces, curvature, and surrounding environment, affect the organization of the kidney cells. I use advanced 3D lab models, to better mimic the conditions inside the kidney, especially in the part called the proximal tubule. These models help us study cell organization in a more realistic setting and understand how its disruption can lead to disease.
Several kidney disorders, such as Lowe Syndrome and polycystic kidney disease, are characterized by loss of cellular organization, where transporters end up in the wrong place, leading to poor function and tissue damage. By recreating these diseases in 3D models, we aim to uncover what goes wrong in the cells and find possible ways to fix it.
