University Of Michigan (The Regents @ Ann Arbor) - Ann Arbor, MI
posted about 1 month ago
Our lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms by which the lung epithelium responds to injury. We study mechanisms of injury/inflammation and regeneration after injury. Epithelial injury and a failure of epithelial regeneration is thought to drive the development of lung diseases such as ARDS (including COVID-19), fibrosis, and emphysema. Specifically, we are exploring the mechanisms underlying proliferation and differentiation of alveolar epithelial progenitor or stem cells. We have identified ?-catenin, HIF, and TGF? signaling as important drivers. We also study the epithelial inflammatory and host defense responses to bacterial and viral infection, specifically epithelial-immune cell crosstalk. We use mouse and cell culture models to study mechanisms. The mouse work involves lineage tracing and inducible cell-specific gene deficient mice, and primary epithelial cell culture/organoid work allows us to further dissect mechanism. We use confocal imaging, immunostaining, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), single cell RNA sequencing, proteomics, and flow assisted cytometry sorting (FACS). We aim to address important questions and make novel discoveries that significantly enhance our understanding of lung biology and disease. We hope that our discoveries may ultimately lead to the development of therapies for infectious, inflammatory, and fibrotic lung diseases.