VAAAHS Research Core - Lung Immunobiology Research Core

Lung Immunobiology Research Core

Overview

The Lung Immunobiology Research Core at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System is comprised of clinician and non-clinician scientists and their laboratory study teams that have made major contributions to our understanding of lung immunology. Research involves both basic and translational studies into antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal lung host defense as well as the study of immune cells in response to environmental perturbations.

Members of this Core are also affiliated with the Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy Sections in the Medicine Service. VAAAHS is home to a 585 sq ft pulmonary function laboratory which performs over 1500 full studies a year, all of which include plethysmography and spirometry.

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Affiliated Investigators

Ulus Atasoy, MD   Posttranscriptional gene regulation of proinflammatory genes; CD4+ T cell lineage differentiation and breakdown of tolerance leading to autoimmunity

Christine Freeman Basmajian, PhD   Understanding the immunopathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with a focus on natural killer cells and dendritic cells

Jeffrey Curtis, MD Lung immunity in humans and mice, including: Immunopathogenesis of COPD; Efferocytosis; Interactions of lung leukocytes with the lung microbiome

Jane Deng, MD, MS Understanding how influenza infections alter immune responses against secondary bacterial infections, with a focus on neutrophil phenotypes

Michal Olszewski, DVM, PhD  Host-pathogen interactions at the interface of adaptive and innate immunity with a focus on responses against fungal and bacterial pathogens

John Osterholzer, MD Response of monocytes & macrophages to sustained injury to lung progenitor cells; recapitulating lung damage in veterans exposed to airborne hazards

 

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Equipment/Resources Available

-Murine Cigarette Smoke Exposure: Murine cigarette smoke exposures can be performed using a Jaeger-Baumgartner Cigarette Smoking Machine, a fully automated system that allows microprocessor-controlled administration of smoke from standardized cigarettes. The equipment is housed in a dedicated 500 sq ft room in Building 22.

-Pulmonary Function Testing: Pulmonary function testing on mice can be performed using a Pulmonary Maneuvers System from Buxco Electronics, with data analysis using Biosystem XA Software.  

-Laser Capture Microdissection System: The Arcturus PIXCELL Iie Laser Capture microscope (LCM) can be used to microdissect small clusters of cells and even single cells for use in DNA, RNA, or protein analyses. Cells can be
 dissected from frozen sections stained with H&E, other dyes, or even following immunolabeling.

-Flow Cytometry: A BD LSR II flow cytometer equipped with 4 lasers (488 nm blue, 405 nm violet, 562 yellow-green, and 633 nm red), and 13 PMTs is available for use at an hourly recharge rate. Training is required prior to use.
 Equipped with BD FACS Diva software to setup and acquire samples.

-Cell Sorting: A BD FACSAria Fusion cell sorter with custom-tailored biosafety cabinet is equipped with 4 lasers. Equipped with BD FACS Diva Software to set up and acquire samples.

-Luminex 200: The Luminex 200 is a flexible analyzer that allows multiplexing of up to 100 analytes in a single microplate well, using very small samples.