Biographical Sketch

Research

We study mechanisms of lung remodeling that occur during lung development and destructive lung diseases such as emphysema. Our specific areas of focus are lung epithelial cells, proteinases that degrade extracellular matrix, and proteins that comprise basement membranes, especially laminins. We use transgenic and gene targeting approaches. We work with developing mouse lungs in vitro and in vivo. We employ various models of lung injury in adult mice, including bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, napthalene-induced airway epithelial injury, and cigarette smoke-induced emphysema. We are also investigating emphysema in people. To determine risk factors for emphysema we are comparing lung cells and white blood cells from smokers with emphysema to lung cells and white blood cells from smokers without emphysema.

Publications

1. Nguyen, NM and Senior, RM: Laminin isoforms and lung development: All isoforms are not equal. Dev. Biol. 294:271-279, 2006.

2. Odajima N, Betsuyaku T, Nasuhara Y, Itoh T, Fukuda Y, Senior RM, and Nishimura M: Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer in interstitial pneumonias. Human Path. 37:1058-1065, 2006.

3. Elizur A, Adair-Kirk TL, Kelley DG, Griffin GL, deMello DE, and Senior RM: Clara cells impact the pulmonary innate immune response to LPS. AJP-Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol., 293:L383-L392, 2007.

4. Atkinson JJ, Toenies HM, Holmbeck K, and Senior RM: Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase is necessary for distal airway epithelial repair and keratinocyte growth factor receptor expression after acute injury. AJP-Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol., 293:L600-L610, 2007.

Book Chapters/Reviews

1. Senior, R.M. and Silverman, E.K.: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. In: Respiratory Medicine. WebMD, Inc. Chapter XXII, October 2007 Update.

2. Fishman, A.P., Elias, J.A., Fishman, J.A., Grippi, M.A., Pack, A.I., and Senior, R.M., Editors. Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders. Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. 2008.