UIC Department of Pharmacology: Faculty Research

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Guochang Hu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Departments of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology
My Laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). The bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) can trigger a systemic hyper-inflammatory response that subsequently leads to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. LPS binding to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) induces the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) resulting in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When this production becomes uncontrolled and excessive, it leads to the development of septic shock. Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) accounts for as many as one-third of all deaths attributed to acute lung injury. In particular, the risk of VILI is increased in the patients with sepsis and pneumonia. Evidence has supported the concept that development of pulmonary inflammation in response to mechanical stress results in polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltration into the lung tissue and hence lung injury. We are interested in identifying signal pathways modulating sepsis- and ventilator-induced inflammation and lung injury.
544 CMW 1853 W. Polk Street (312) 996-4692 gchu@uic.edu Lab home page Publications