Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy

Diane Allen-Gipson Lab

Ph.D., Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Tallahassee FL

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Research Interest

Our lab focuses on mechanisms controlling repair of bronchial epithelium and the role of epithelial injury in airway disease. We are particularly interested in studying aspects of adenosine signal pathway in these processes. Adenosine, an endogenous nucleoside has been recognized as an important modulator of hypoxic, ischemic and inflammatory process critical to both tissue homeostasis and tissue injury. Little is known on the role adenosine plays in maintaining airway homeostasis and wounded airway. We hypothesize that adenosine has the ability to maintain normal airway integrity and regulate airway wound repair via occupancy of its receptors. We are interested in understanding the dynamics of the receptor-mediated action of adenosine as well as investigating adenosines mechanistic signaling pathways associated with ciliary motility and clearance, pro-and- anti-inflammatory cytokine production, cell adhesion and remodeling and wound repair under conditions of cigarette smoke and/or alcohol exposure, and oxidative stress. We believe the distribution and varied effects of adenosine receptors in the epithelial airway could have for the most part, important implication in understanding chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methodology incorporated in our lab includes but not limited to:

• Receptor-Ligand binding Studies
• 3H Thymidine Incorporation Studies
• HPLC
• Molecular Biology Techniques i.e., Western Blots, immunoprecipations assays
• Genetic manipulations (Transfections)
• Ciliary Motility Studies (SAVA)
• Kinase Studies (PKA, PKC and PKG)
• Small animal studies (In vivo and Ex vivo