Research

Our research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neonatal intestinal diseases, particularly necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We employ cutting-edge technologies including organoid models, single-cell genomics, and regenerative medicine approaches to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

With over 95 peer-reviewed publications, our work has contributed to advancing the field of pediatric regenerative medicine and intestinal stem cell biology.

Highlighted Publications

Exploring the Complex Pathophysiology of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates

Bo Li, Mina Yeganeh, Dorothy Lee, Sinobol Chusilp, Felicia Balsamo, Niloofar Ganji, Chen-Yi Wang, Andrea Zito, George Biouss, Agostino Pierro

Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease  ·  26 Jan 2026  ·  doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-070224-014223

nec review

Molecular and Chromatin Accessibility Programs Underlying Epithelial Injury and Impaired Regeneration in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Yi Xiong, Andrea Zito, Haoyan Liang, George Biouss, Jielin Yang, …, Brian T. Kalish, Paul Delgado Olguin, Haitao Zhu, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology  ·  01 Jan 2026  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jcmgh.2026.101730

nec genomics

Impairment of stromal-epithelial regenerative cross-talk in Hirschsprung disease primes for the progression to enterocolitis

Zhen Zhang, Dorothy Lee, Lingya Liu, Yi Xiong, Carol Lee, …, Vivian S. W. Li, Paolo De Coppi, Qian Jiang, Agostino Pierro, Bo Li

Science Translational Medicine  ·  30 Jul 2025  ·  doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.adp4679

hirschsprung-disease

Remote ischemic conditioning counteracts the intestinal damage of necrotizing enterocolitis by improving intestinal microcirculation

Yuhki Koike, Bo Li, Niloofar Ganji, Haitao Zhu, Hiromu Miyake, …, Luc Mertens, Alan Daneman, Simon Eaton, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

Nature Communications  ·  02 Oct 2020  ·  doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18750-9

nec therapy

Impaired Wnt/β-catenin pathway leads to dysfunction of intestinal regeneration during necrotizing enterocolitis

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Marissa Cadete, Haitao Zhu, Yuhki Koike, …, Pekka Määttänen, Paul Delgado-Olguin, Philip M. Sherman, Augusto Zani, Agostino Pierro

Cell Death & Disease  ·  03 Oct 2019  ·  doi:10.1038/s41419-019-1987-1

nec wnt-signaling

All Publications

2026

Exploring the Complex Pathophysiology of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates

Bo Li, Mina Yeganeh, Dorothy Lee, Sinobol Chusilp, Felicia Balsamo, Niloofar Ganji, Chen-Yi Wang, Andrea Zito, George Biouss, Agostino Pierro

Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease  ·  26 Jan 2026  ·  doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-070224-014223

nec review

Short-chain fructooligosaccharides protect against intestinal injury in NEC by restoring AKT/GSK-3β signaling

Yingying Huang, Bo Zhang, Richard Y. Wu, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Philip Sherman, Agostino Pierro, Haitao Zhu

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jan 2026  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2026.162963

nec nutrition

Molecular and Chromatin Accessibility Programs Underlying Epithelial Injury and Impaired Regeneration in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Yi Xiong, Andrea Zito, Haoyan Liang, George Biouss, Jielin Yang, …, Brian T. Kalish, Paul Delgado Olguin, Haitao Zhu, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology  ·  01 Jan 2026  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jcmgh.2026.101730

nec genomics

2025

Remote ischemic conditioning in necrotizing enterocolitis: an extended phase I safety study

Yongfang Wu, Niloofar Ganji, Zhou Chen, Mingzhe Hu, Dan Li, Bo Li, Ying Huang, Agostino Pierro, Haitao Zhu

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  20 Dec 2025  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-025-06238-w

nec conditioning

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the eicosapentaenoic acid metabolite 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE) attenuate experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Hiromu Miyake, Kathryn E. Hopperton, Pekka Määttänen, Yuhki Koike, Yong Chen, …, Carol Lee, Shogo Seo, Philip M. Sherman, Richard P. Bazinet, Agostino Pierro

Clinical Nutrition  ·  01 Dec 2025  ·  doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2025.09.015

nec nutrition

Ferrostatin-1 protects against necrotizing enterocolitis intestinal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis

Chen-Yi Wang, Mehrsa Feizi, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Dorothy Lee, Jielin Yang, Ying Kang, Yu-Zuo Bai, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  26 Nov 2025  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-025-06240-2

nec ferroptosis

Remote ischemic conditioning modulates the healing process after intestinal anastomosis

Masahiro Shimizu, George Biouss, Jielin Yang, Naho Fujiwara, Bo Li, …, Naoki Hashizume, Koshiro Sugita, Go Miyano, Atsuyuki Yamataka, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  20 Nov 2025  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-025-06248-8

anastomosis conditioning

Anti-fibrotic effect of human amniotic fluid stem cells in biliary epithelial-mesenchymal transition of liver ductal organoid

Sinobol Chusilp, Poramate Klanrit, Carol Lee, Dorothy Lee, Bo Li, …, Kanokrat Thaiwatcharamas, Patchareeporn Tanming, Dolrudee Aroonsaeng, Paisarn Vejchapipat, Agostino Pierro

Stem Cells Translational Medicine  ·  28 Sep 2025  ·  doi:10.1093/stcltm/szaf052

biliary-atresia stem-cells

Impairment of stromal-epithelial regenerative cross-talk in Hirschsprung disease primes for the progression to enterocolitis

Zhen Zhang, Dorothy Lee, Lingya Liu, Yi Xiong, Carol Lee, …, Vivian S. W. Li, Paolo De Coppi, Qian Jiang, Agostino Pierro, Bo Li

Science Translational Medicine  ·  30 Jul 2025  ·  doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.adp4679

hirschsprung-disease

Exosomes derived from colostrum and mature human breast milk protect against experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Runnan Gao, Yingying Huang, Bo Li, Rong Zhang, Carol Lee, …, Weijing He, Yun Cao, Agostino Pierro, Chun Shen, Haitao Zhu

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  18 Jul 2025  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-025-06043-5

nec breast-milk

Predictive value of plasma zonulin for postoperative Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis

Lihua Wu, Ya Gao, Ruijie Zhou, Ping Xiao, Zhen Zhang, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro, Long Li, Qian Jiang, Qi Li

World Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jun 2025  ·  doi:10.1136/wjps-2025-001057

hirschsprung-disease

Clinical Characteristics and Postoperative Functional Outcomes in Children With Mowat-Wilson Syndrome and Hirschsprung's Disease: A Single-center Study

Tianran Cheng, Zhen Zhang, Ruijie Zhou, Weike Liu, Ping Xiao, …, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro, Long Li, Qian Jiang, Qi Li

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Apr 2025  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162217

hirschsprung-disease

Glucagon-like peptides agonists promote maturation of intestinal organoids derived from neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis

George Biouss, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Khosrow Adeli, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  19 Jan 2025  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-024-05957-w

nec organoids

2024

Enhancement of enteric neural stem cell neurogenesis by glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor in experimental Hirschsprung’s disease

Naho Fujiwara, Dorothy Lee, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro, Atsuyuki Yamataka

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  26 Oct 2024  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-024-05861-3

hirschsprung-disease

Translating regenerative medicine therapies in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

Niloofar Ganji, Brian Kalish, Martin Offringa, Bo Li, James Anderson, …, Prakesh S. Shah, Bernard Thébaud, Kasper Wang, Augusto Zani, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Research  ·  28 May 2024  ·  doi:10.1038/s41390-024-03236-x

nec regenerative-medicine

Cardiac tissue model of immune-induced dysfunction reveals the role of free mitochondrial DNA and the therapeutic effects of exosomes

Rick Xing Ze Lu, Naimeh Rafatian, Yimu Zhao, Karl T. Wagner, Erika L. Beroncal, …, Bowen Li, Agostino Pierro, Ana C. Andreazza, Claudia C. dos Santos, Milica Radisic

Science Advances  ·  29 Mar 2024  ·  doi:10.1126/sciadv.adk0164

cardiac exosomes

Rack1‐mediated ferroptosis affects hindgut development in rats with anorectal malformations: Spatial transcriptome insights

Chen‐Yi Wang, Mu‐Yu Li, Si‐Ying Li, Xiao‐Gao Wei, Nai‐Xuan Dong, …, Zheng‐Wei Yuan, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro, Xiao‐Bing Tang, Yu‐Zuo Bai

Cell Proliferation  ·  25 Mar 2024  ·  doi:10.1111/cpr.13618

development

Human milk oligosaccharides promote intestinal epithelium regeneration independent of the microbiota during necrotizing enterocolitis

Andrea Zito, Richard Y. Wu, Bo Li, Steven R. Botts, Mehrsa Feizi, …, Carol Lee, Kathene C. Johnson-Henry, Michael G. Surette, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  12 Jan 2024  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-023-05598-5

nec hmo

2023

Argon inhalation attenuates systemic inflammation and rescues lung architecture during experimental neonatal sepsis

Felicia Balsamo, Bo Li, Sinobol Chusilp, Dorothy Lee, George Biouss, Carol Lee, Jason T. Maynes, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  18 Dec 2023  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-023-05596-7

sepsis argon

Intestinal microRNAs and bacterial taxa in juvenile mice are associated, modifiable by allochthonous lactobacilli, and affect postnatal maturation

Amel Taibi, Tomas Tokar, Julien Tremblay, Giorgio Gargari, Catherine J. Streutker, …, Agostino Pierro, Simone Guglielmetti, Thomas A. Tompkins, Igor Jurisica, Elena M. Comelli

mSystems  ·  18 Jul 2023  ·  doi:10.1128/msystems.00431-23

microbiome

Bovine milk-derived exosomes attenuate NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB signaling in the lung during neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

Rachel Filler, Mina Yeganeh, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Mashriq Alganabi, …, George Biouss, Felicia Balsamo, Dorothy Lee, Hiromu Miyake, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  03 Jun 2023  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-023-05490-2

nec exosomes

Remote ischemic conditioning in necrotizing enterocolitis

Niloofar Ganji, George Biouss, Stella Sabbatini, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Agostino Pierro

Seminars in Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jun 2023  ·  doi:10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2023.151312

nec conditioning

Development of liver inflammatory injury in biliary atresia: from basic to clinical research

Sinobol Chusilp, Felicia Balsamo, Bo Li, Paisarn Vejchapipat, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  30 May 2023  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-023-05489-9

biliary-atresia

Necrotizing enterocolitis: recent advances in treatment with translational potential

Niloofar Ganji, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  29 May 2023  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-023-05476-0

nec review

Family care reduces the incidence of neonatal sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Niloofar Ganji, Mashriq Alganabi, Masaya Yamoto, Sinobol Chusilp, Agostino Pierro, Bo Li

Frontiers in Pediatrics  ·  12 Apr 2023  ·  doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1089229

sepsis family-care

2022

Amniotic fluid stem cells: A novel treatment for necrotizing enterocolitis

Felicia Balsamo, Yina Tian, Agostino Pierro, Bo Li

Frontiers in Pediatrics  ·  01 Dec 2022  ·  doi:10.3389/fped.2022.1020986

nec stem-cells

Gut microbiota promotes stem cell differentiation through macrophage and mesenchymal niches in early postnatal development

Ji-Eun Kim, Bo Li, Lijiang Fei, Rachael Horne, Dorothy Lee, …, Dana J. Philpott, Philip Sherman, Guoji Guo, Agostino Pierro, Tae-Hee Kim

Immunity  ·  01 Dec 2022  ·  doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2022.11.003

microbiome development

Intestinal atresia and necrotizing enterocolitis: Embryology and anatomy

S. Sabbatini, N. Ganji, S. Chusilp, F. Balsamo, B. Li, A. Pierro

Seminars in Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Dec 2022  ·  doi:10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2022.151234

intestinal-atresia nec

Remote ischaemic conditioning in necrotising enterocolitis: a phase I feasibility and safety study

Carlos Zozaya, Niloofar Ganji, Bo Li, Maarten Janssen Lok, Carol Lee, …, Estelle Gauda, Martin Offringa, Simon Eaton, Prakeshkumar S Shah, Agostino Pierro

Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition  ·  08 Aug 2022  ·  doi:10.1136/archdischild-2022-324174

nec conditioning

Human breast milk-derived exosomes protect against intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury in neonatal rats

Lili Wang, Runnan Gao, Bo Li, Mashriq Alganabi, Weijing He, Chun Shen, Haitao Zhu, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jul 2022  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.02.029

nec breast-milk exosomes

Hirschsprung-Associated Enterocolitis: Transformative Research from Bench to Bedside

Zhen Zhang, Bo Li, Qian Jiang, Qi Li, Agostino Pierro, Long Li

European Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jun 2022  ·  doi:10.1055/s-0042-1745780

hirschsprung-disease

Remote ischemic conditioning in necrotizing enterocolitis: study protocol of a multi-center phase II feasibility randomized controlled trial

Niloofar Ganji, Bo Li, Irfan Ahmad, Alan Daneman, Poorva Deshpande, …, Andrew Willan, Rosanna Yankanah, Carlos Zozaya, Prakesh S. Shah, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  16 Mar 2022  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-022-05095-1

nec clinical-trial

Remote ischemic conditioning causes CD4 T cells shift towards reduced cell-mediated inflammation

Mashriq Alganabi, George Biouss, Niloofar Ganji, Masaya Yamoto, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  04 Mar 2022  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-022-05093-3

conditioning

2021

Structure–Function Relationships of Human Milk Oligosaccharides on the Intestinal Epithelial Transcriptome in Caco‐2 Cells and a Murine Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Richard Y. Wu, Bo Li, Rachael G. Horne, Abdalla Ahmed, Dorothy Lee, …, Rachel Filler, Kathene C. Johnson‐Henry, Paul Delgado‐Olguin, Agostino Pierro, Philip M. Sherman

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research  ·  29 Dec 2021  ·  doi:10.1002/mnfr.202100893

nec hmo

Treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis by conditioned medium derived from human amniotic fluid stem cells

Joshua S. O’Connell, Bo Li, Andrea Zito, Abdalla Ahmed, Marissa Cadete, …, Robert Mitchell, Steve Ray, Paolo De Coppi, Ketan Patel, Agostino Pierro

PLOS ONE  ·  02 Dec 2021  ·  doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260522

nec stem-cells

Amniotic fluid stem cell administration can prevent epithelial injury from necrotizing enterocolitis

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Marissa Cadete, Joshua S. O’Connell, Mashriq Alganabi, …, Steven R. Botts, Kathene C. Johnson-Henry, Pekka Maattanen, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Research  ·  24 Sep 2021  ·  doi:10.1038/s41390-021-01657-6

nec stem-cells

Endoplasmic reticulum stress in the acute intestinal epithelial injury of necrotizing enterocolitis

Ethan Lau, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  12 Jun 2021  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-021-04929-8

nec er-stress

Fetal lung underdevelopment is rescued by administration of amniotic fluid stem cell extracellular vesicles in rodents

Lina Antounians, Vincenzo D. Catania, Louise Montalva, Benjamin D. Liu, Huayun Hou, …, Paolo De Coppi, Lourenço Sbragia, Michael D. Wilson, Janet Rossant, Augusto Zani

Science Translational Medicine  ·  21 Apr 2021  ·  doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aax5941

lung stem-cells

Extracellular vesicles isolated from milk can improve gut barrier dysfunction induced by malnutrition

Mohamed Karim Maghraby, Bo Li, Lijun Chi, Catriona Ling, Abderrahim Benmoussa, …, Andrea C. Postmus, Abdirahman Abdi, Agostino Pierro, Celine Bourdon, Robert H. J. Bandsma

Scientific Reports  ·  07 Apr 2021  ·  doi:10.1038/s41598-021-86920-w

nutrition microbiome

Doppler ultrasound assessment of splanchnic perfusion and heart rate for the detection of necrotizing enterocolitis

Niloofar Ganji, Yuhki Koike, Bo Li, Haitao Zhu, Ethan Lau, Maarten Janssen Lok, Carol Lee, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  12 Feb 2021  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04819-5

nec ultrasound

Administration of extracellular vesicles derived from human amniotic fluid stem cells: a new treatment for necrotizing enterocolitis

Joshua S. O’Connell, Carol Lee, Nassim Farhat, Lina Antounians, Augusto Zani, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  10 Feb 2021  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04826-6

nec stem-cells exosomes

Remote ischemic conditioning avoids the development of intestinal damage after ischemia reperfusion by reducing intestinal inflammation and increasing intestinal regeneration

Haitao Zhu, Bo Li, Edoardo Bindi, Carol Lee, Mashriq Alganabi, Maarten Janssen Lok, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  08 Feb 2021  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04831-9

conditioning regeneration

Hepatic oxidative injury: role of mitochondrial dysfunction in necrotizing enterocolitis

Edoardo Bindi, Mashriq Alganabi, George Biouss, Jia Liu, Bo Li, Hiromu Miyake, Rossella Angotti, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  06 Feb 2021  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04816-8

nec liver

Live Intravital Intestine with Blood Flow Visualization in Neonatal Mice Using Two-photon Laser Scanning Microscopy

Yuhki Koike, Bo Li, Yong Chen, Niloofar Ganji, Mashriq Alganabi, …, Richard Wu, Keiichi Uchida, Mikihiro Inoue, Paul Delgado Olguin, Agostino Pierro

BIO-PROTOCOL  ·  01 Jan 2021  ·  doi:10.21769/BioProtoc.3937

methods imaging

Human amniotic fluid stem cells attenuate cholangiocyte apoptosis in a bile duct injury model of liver ductal organoids

Sinobol Chusilp, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Dorothy Lee, Masaya Yamoto, Niloofar Ganji, Paisarn Vejchapipat, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jan 2021  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.09.043

biliary-atresia organoids

2020

Intestinal epithelial tight junctions and permeability can be rescued through the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress by amniotic fluid stem cells during necrotizing enterocolitis

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Sinobol Chuslip, Dorothy Lee, George Biouss, …, Yuhki Koike, Hiromu Miyake, Wan Ip, Tanja Gonska, Agostino Pierro

The FASEB Journal  ·  29 Dec 2020  ·  doi:10.1096/fj.202001426R

nec stem-cells

A novel model of injured liver ductal organoids to investigate cholangiocyte apoptosis with relevance to biliary atresia

Sinobol Chusilp, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Dorothy Lee, Masaya Yamoto, Niloofar Ganji, Paisarn Vejchapipat, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  21 Oct 2020  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04765-2

biliary-atresia organoids

The effect of pre- and post-remote ischemic conditioning reduces the injury associated with intestinal ischemia/reperfusion

Hiromu Miyake, Yuhki Koike, Shogo Seo, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Niloofar Ganji, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  17 Oct 2020  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04762-5

conditioning

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Protect against Necrotizing Enterocolitis by Activating Intestinal Cell Differentiation

Bo Li, Richard You Wu, Rachael G. Horne, Abdalla Ahmed, Dorothy Lee, …, Mashriq Alganabi, Thomas Abrahamsson, Paul Delgado‐Olguin, Agostino Pierro, Philip M. Sherman

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research  ·  04 Oct 2020  ·  doi:10.1002/mnfr.202000519

nec hmo

Remote ischemic conditioning counteracts the intestinal damage of necrotizing enterocolitis by improving intestinal microcirculation

Yuhki Koike, Bo Li, Niloofar Ganji, Haitao Zhu, Hiromu Miyake, …, Luc Mertens, Alan Daneman, Simon Eaton, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

Nature Communications  ·  02 Oct 2020  ·  doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18750-9

nec therapy

Activation of Wnt signaling by amniotic fluid stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles attenuates intestinal injury in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Joshua S. O’Connell, Lina Antounians, Niloofar Ganji, …, Pekka Maattanen, Paul Delgado Olguin, Augusto Zani, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

Cell Death & Disease  ·  14 Sep 2020  ·  doi:10.1038/s41419-020-02964-2

nec stem-cells wnt

Lysosomal overloading and necrotizing enterocolitis

Masaya Yamoto, Mashriq Alganabi, Sinobol Chusilp, Dorothy Lee, Yuta Yazaki, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  01 Aug 2020  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04724-x

nec autophagy

Amniotic fluid and breast milk: a rationale for breast milk stem cell therapy in neonatal diseases

Rachel Filler, Bo Li, Sinobol Chusilp, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  15 Jul 2020  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-020-04710-3

breast-milk stem-cells

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Alters the Gut Microbiota in a Murine Model of Colitis

Eberhard Lurz, Rachael G. Horne, Pekka Määttänen, Richard Y. Wu, Steven R. Botts, …, Laura Rossi, Kathene C. Johnson-Henry, Agostino Pierro, Michael G. Surette, Philip M. Sherman

Frontiers in Nutrition  ·  05 Jun 2020  ·  doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.00083

microbiome vitamin-b12

Beneficial effects of butyrate in intestinal injury

Jia Liu, Haitao Zhu, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Mashriq Alganabi, Shan Zheng, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jun 2020  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.02.036

butyrate

Fecal microbiota transplantation by enema reduces intestinal injury in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Jia Liu, Hiromu Miyake, Haitao Zhu, Bo Li, Mashriq Alganabi, Carol Lee, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jun 2020  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.02.035

nec microbiota

The intestinal injury caused by ischemia‐reperfusion is attenuated by amniotic fluid stem cells via the release of tumor necrosis factor‐stimulated gene 6 protein

Yuhki Koike, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Mashriq Alganabi, Haitao Zhu, Sinobol Chusilp, Dorothy Lee, Shigang Cheng, Qi Li, Agostino Pierro

The FASEB Journal  ·  29 Mar 2020  ·  doi:10.1096/fj.201902892RR

nec stem-cells

Plant‐ and Fish‐Derived n‐3 PUFAs Suppress Citrobacter Rodentium–Induced Colonic Inflammation

Pekka Määttänen, Eberhard Lurz, Steven R. Botts, Richard Y. Wu, Shaiya C. Robinson, …, Bo Li, Kathene C. Johnson‐Henry, Marc E. Surette, Jesmond Dalli, Philip M. Sherman

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research  ·  12 Feb 2020  ·  doi:10.1002/mnfr.201900873

nutrition inflammation

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV signaling pathway is upregulated in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Mashriq Alganabi, Haitao Zhu, Joshua S. O’Connell, George Biouss, Andrea Zito, Bo Li, Edoardo Bindi, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  16 Jan 2020  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-019-04615-w

nec signaling

2019

Vasoactive intestinal peptide decreases inflammation and tight junction disruption in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Shogo Seo, Hiromu Miyake, Mashriq Alganabi, Maarten Janssen Lok, Joshua S. O’Connell, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Dec 2019  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.08.038

nec

Protective effects of lactoferrin on injured intestinal epithelial cells

Jia Liu, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Haitao Zhu, Shan Zheng, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Dec 2019  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.08.046

lactoferrin

Human breast milk exosomes attenuate intestinal damage

Hiromu Miyake, Carol Lee, Sinobol Chusilp, Manvi Bhalla, Bo Li, Michael Pitino, Shogo Seo, Deborah L. O’Connor, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  12 Nov 2019  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-019-04599-7

breast-milk exosomes

Protective effects of vitamin D against injury in intestinal epithelium

Carol Lee, Ethan Lau, Sinobol Chusilp, Rachel Filler, Bo Li, Haitao Zhu, Masaya Yamoto, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  14 Oct 2019  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-019-04586-y

vitamin-d

Mitochondrial DNA: A Biomarker of Disease Severity in Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Edoardo Bindi, Bo Li, Haitao Zhou, Maarten Janssen Lok, Mashriq Alganabi, Rossella Angotti, Agostino Pierro

European Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  10 Oct 2019  ·  doi:10.1055/s-0039-1697910

nec biomarkers

Impaired Wnt/β-catenin pathway leads to dysfunction of intestinal regeneration during necrotizing enterocolitis

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Marissa Cadete, Haitao Zhu, Yuhki Koike, …, Pekka Määttänen, Paul Delgado-Olguin, Philip M. Sherman, Augusto Zani, Agostino Pierro

Cell Death & Disease  ·  03 Oct 2019  ·  doi:10.1038/s41419-019-1987-1

nec wnt-signaling

The role of autophagy in intestinal epithelial injury

Masaya Yamoto, Carol Lee, Sinobol Chusilp, Yuta Yazaki, Mashriq Alganabi, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  25 Sep 2019  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-019-04566-2

autophagy

Endothelin receptor B affects the perfusion of newborn intestine: possible mechanism of necrotizing enterocolitis development

Hiromu Miyake, Shogo Seo, Naho Fujiwara, Katsumi Miyahara, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Yong Chen, Atsuyuki Yamataka, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  25 Sep 2019  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-019-04559-1

hirschsprung-disease

Intestinal organoids in infants and children

Sinobol Chusilp, Bo Li, Dorothy Lee, Carol Lee, Paisarn Vejchapipat, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  25 Sep 2019  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-019-04581-3

organoids

Necrotizing Enterocolitis: State of the Art in Translating Experimental Research to the Bedside

Niloofar Ganji, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Rachel Filler, Agostino Pierro

European Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Aug 2019  ·  doi:10.1055/s-0039-1693994

nec review

Liver Organoids Generated from Mice with Necrotizing Enterocolitis Have Reduced Regenerative Capacity

Hiromu Miyake, Carol Lee, Shogo Seo, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

European Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  31 Jul 2019  ·  doi:10.1055/s-0039-1693726

nec organoids

Lactoferrin Reduces Necrotizing Enterocolitis Severity by Upregulating Intestinal Epithelial Proliferation

Jia Liu, Haitao Zhu, Bo Li, Shaiya C. Robinson, Carol Lee, Joshua S. O’Connell, Edoardo Bindi, Shan Zheng, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

European Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  25 Jul 2019  ·  doi:10.1055/s-0039-1693728

nec lactoferrin

Experimental necrotizing enterocolitis induces neuroinflammation in the neonatal brain

George Biouss, Lina Antounians, Bo Li, Joshua S. O’Connell, Shogo Seo, …, Abidur Rahman, Elke Zani-Ruttenstock, Nataliia Svergun, Agostino Pierro, Augusto Zani

Journal of Neuroinflammation  ·  10 May 2019  ·  doi:10.1186/s12974-019-1481-9

nec neuroinflammation

Neonatal intestinal injury induced by maternal separation: pathogenesis and pharmacological targets

Bo Li, Fang Zhou Yu, Adam Minich, Alison Hock, Carol Lee, Agostino Pierro

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology  ·  01 Mar 2019  ·  doi:10.1139/cjpp-2018-0370

maternal-separation

Bovine milk-derived exosomes enhance goblet cell activity and prevent the development of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Bo Li, Alison Hock, Richard Y. Wu, Adam Minich, Steven R. Botts, …, Yuhki Koike, Yong Chen, Augusto Zani, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

PLOS ONE  ·  30 Jan 2019  ·  doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211431

nec exosomes

Recent advances in understanding necrotizing enterocolitis

Mashriq Alganabi, Carol Lee, Edoardo Bindi, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

F1000Research  ·  25 Jan 2019  ·  doi:10.12688/f1000research.17228.1

nec review

Formula Feeding and Immature Gut Microcirculation Promote Intestinal Hypoxia leading to Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Yong Chen, Yuhki Koike, Lijun Chi, Abdalla Ahmed, Hiromu Miyake, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Paul Delgado-Olguín, Agostino Pierro

Disease Models & Mechanisms  ·  01 Jan 2019  ·  doi:10.1242/dmm.040998

nec microcirculation

2018

Ground flaxseed reverses protection of a reduced-fat diet against Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis

Pekka Määttänen, Eberhard Lurz, Steven R. Botts, Richard Y. Wu, C. William Yeung, …, Dion Lepp, Krista A. Power, Agostino Pierro, Marc E. Surette, Philip M. Sherman

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology  ·  01 Nov 2018  ·  doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00101.2018

nutrition microbiome

Neonatal intestinal organoids as an ex vivo approach to study early intestinal epithelial disorders

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Marissa Cadete, Hiromu Miyake, Dorothy Lee, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  31 Oct 2018  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-018-4369-3

organoids

Liver damage, proliferation, and progenitor cell markers in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Hiromu Miyake, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Yuhki Koike, Yong Chen, Shogo Seo, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 May 2018  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.02.006

nec liver

Stem cell therapy in necrotizing enterocolitis: Current state and future directions

Natalie A. Drucker, Christopher J. McCulloh, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro, Gail E. Besner, Troy A. Markel

Seminars in Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Feb 2018  ·  doi:10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2017.11.011

nec stem-cells review

Live Imaging of Fetal Intra-abdominal Organs Using Two-Photon Laser-Scanning Microscopy

Yuhki Koike, Bo Li, Yong Chen, Hiromu Miyake, Carol Lee, …, Mikihiro Inoue, Keiichi Uchida, Masato Kusunoki, Paul Delgado-Olguin, Agostino Pierro

Methods in Molecular Biology  ·  01 Jan 2018  ·  doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-7714-7_6

methods imaging

2017

Non-digestible oligosaccharides directly regulate host kinome to modulate host inflammatory responses without alterations in the gut microbiota

Richard Y. Wu, Pekka Määttänen, Scott Napper, Erin Scruten, Bo Li, …, Agostino Pierro, Laura Rossi, Steven R. Botts, Michael G. Surette, Philip M. Sherman

Microbiome  ·  10 Oct 2017  ·  doi:10.1186/s40168-017-0357-4

oligosaccharides microbiome

Influence of stress factors on intestinal epithelial injury and regeneration

Carol Lee, Adam Minich, Bo Li, Hiromu Miyake, Shogo Seo, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  10 Oct 2017  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-017-4183-3

stress epithelium

Duhamel and Transanal Endorectal Pull-throughs for Hirschsprung' Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Hiromu Miyake, Alison Hock, Yuhki Koike, Chen Yong, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro, Shogo Seo

European Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  28 Sep 2017  ·  doi:10.1055/s-0037-1607061

hirschsprung-disease meta-analysis

Inhibition of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 and activation of receptor 2 protect against colonic injury and promote epithelium repair

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Tali Filler, Alison Hock, Richard You Wu, …, Tanja Gonska, Paul Delgado-Olguin, Augusto Zani, Philip M. Sherman, Agostino Pierro

Scientific Reports  ·  11 May 2017  ·  doi:10.1038/srep46616

crh epithelium

Gastric emptying is reduced in experimental NEC and correlates with the severity of intestinal damage

Yuhki Koike, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Shigang Cheng, Hiromu Miyake, Christopher Welsh, Alison Hock, Jaques Belik, Augusto Zani, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 May 2017  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2017.01.031

nec gastric-emptying

Breast milk-derived exosomes promote intestinal epithelial cell growth

Alison Hock, Hiromu Miyake, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Leonardo Ermini, Yuhki Koike, Yong Chen, Pekka Määttänen, Augusto Zani, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 May 2017  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2017.01.032

breast-milk exosomes

Intestinal epithelial injury induced by maternal separation is protected by hydrogen sulfide

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Zechariah Martin, Xinpei Li, Yuhki Koike, Alison Hock, Elke Zani-Ruttenstock, Augusto Zani, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jan 2017  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.10.013

maternal-separation hydrogen-sulfide

2016

Osmolality of enteral formula and severity of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Hiromu Miyake, Yong Chen, Yuhki Koike, Alison Hock, Bo Li, Carol Lee, Augusto Zani, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  02 Nov 2016  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-016-3998-7

nec formula

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in the colonic epithelium damage induced by maternal separation

Bo Li, Augusto Zani, Carol Lee, Elke Zani-Ruttenstock, Ziyi Zhang, Xinpei Li, Wan IP, Tanja Gonska, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 Jun 2016  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.02.073

maternal-separation er-stress

Intestinal epithelial cell injury is rescued by hydrogen sulfide

Bo Li, Augusto Zani, Zechariah Martin, Carol Lee, Elke Zani-Ruttenstock, Simon Eaton, Agostino Pierro

Journal of Pediatric Surgery  ·  01 May 2016  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.02.019

hydrogen-sulfide

2015

A spectrum of intestinal injury models in neonatal mice

Augusto Zani, Elke Zani-Ruttenstock, Forouhideh Peyvandi, Carol Lee, Bo Li, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  09 Nov 2015  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-015-3813-x

nec models

2014

Early maternal separation induces alterations of colonic epithelial permeability and morphology

Bo Li, Carol Lee, Augusto Zani, Elke Zani-Ruttenstock, Wan Ip, Lijun Chi, Paul Delgado Olguin, Tanja Gonska, Agostino Pierro

Pediatric Surgery International  ·  31 Oct 2014  ·  doi:10.1007/s00383-014-3611-x

maternal-separation

2009

The posteriorizing geneGbx2is a direct target of Wnt signalling and the earliest factor in neural crest induction

Bo Li, Sei Kuriyama, Mauricio Moreno, Roberto Mayor

Development  ·  01 Oct 2009  ·  doi:10.1242/dev.036954

neural-crest development