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Respiratory Physiology Group

The Department of Physiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is consistently ranking among the top 10 Physiology Departments in the country in extramural funding. Although the research projects of the faculty are diverse, several investigators recognized their common research interests and formed the Respiratory Physiology Group with its main focus on lung injury. Within a short period of time investigators outside the Department with similar research interests joined this diverse group transforming it into today’s well-organized and structured multidisciplinary group of investigators with a common focus on lung inflammation and lung injury.

The group is currently composed of senior and junior faculty members of the UT Departments of Physiology, Molecular Sciences, Pulmonary Medicine, Pediatrics, Pharmaceutical Services, a faculty member from the Biomedical Engineering Department of the University of Memphis, several postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, laboratory technicians and summer students.

Diagram explaining all the functions of each member of the groupDr. Schwingshackl’s research interest lies in investigating the role of stretch-activated ion channels (SAC) in the secretion of inflammatory mediators in the lung. Both, mechanical stretch and hyperoxia appear to induce expression of stretch-activated ion channels in lung tissue. Inhibition of these channels may constitute a novel target to reduce inflammation in the lungs of mechanically ventilated children.

Respiratory Physiology Lab: Selected Publications

  • Schwingshackl A, Teng B, West AN, Makena P, Gorantla V, Sinclair SE, Waters CM. Regulation and function of the two-pore-domain potassium channel Trek-1 in alveolar epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 2012, 302:L93-102.
  • Ghosh MC, Makena PS, Gorantla VK, Sinclair SE, Waters CM. .external link Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 2012 (in press).
  • Makena PS, Gorantla VK, Ghosh MC, Bezawada L, Kandasamy K, Balazs L, Luellen CL, Thompson KE, Parthasarathi K, Ichijo H,Waters CM, Sinclair SE. .external link Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011 (in press).
  • Makena PS, Gorantla VK, Ghosh MC, Bezawada L, Balazs L, Luellen C, Parthasarathi K, Waters CM, Sinclair SE. .external link J Appl Physiol, 2011, 111:1467-7.