October 2009 Newsletter

Patricia Chess, M.D.

The Chess laboratory studies lung injury and repair in the neonate, focusing on mechanical forces in the lung. Mechanisms of cellular signaling in response to mechanical strain and nanoparticles are being investigated, concentrating on p42/44 MAP Kinase and ROS signal transduction pathways involved in the stimulation of proliferation induced by mechanical strain in alveolar epithelial cells and related cell lines. In vitro studies are complemented by a ventilated murine model. Also being examined are surfactant dysfunction and the inflammatory response in aspiration and ventilator-induced lung injury, and the additional effects of oxygen on these injury models. A porcine model of acute lung injury is being used to optimize conditions of gene delivery of ENaC and Na K-ATPase subunits during acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ ARDS) followed by testing efficacy in treating established ALI-ARDS from surfactant depletion or sepsis.