EHSRC Investigator Detail
| Michael J. Welsh, M.D. | |
| Professor of Internal Medicine - Pulmonary; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
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| Email: michael-welsh@uiowa.edu | |
| Phone: (319) 335-7619 | |
| EHSRC Role(s): | Member, Inflammation and Innate Immunity Research Cluster |
Dr. Welsh has a long-standing interest in the study and treatment of cystic fibrosis. His laboratory uses a multi-faceted approach to understand the biology of cystic fibrosis, with several areas of emphasis. The first is to understand the structure and function of CFTR using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and electrophysiologic techniques. The lab continues to examine how CFTR forms a Cl- channel and how its opening and closing are regulated. The second is to understand how cystic fibrosis-associated mutations cause the protein to malfunction and to understand how that malfunction causes disease. In focusing on the pathogenesis of airway disease, the lab has developed the hypothesis that altered salt concentrations in airway surface liquid may interfere with killing of inhaled bacteria by inhibiting the function of defensins and other antibacterial molecules. They propose that this may be one of the first steps in the onset of CF lung disease. The third area of focus in cystic fibrosis is to develop new approaches to therapy, with an emphasis on gene transfer using both viral and non-viral vectors. The lab has recently been focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that limit gene transfer to airway epithelia. Using knowledge obtained from those studies they have developed novel strategies to increase the efficiency of gene transfer to airway epithelia. Fourth, his laboratory focuses on a novel family of non-voltage gated cation channels in epithelia and nervous system. In epithelia, they study the function of ENaC in epithelial electrolyte transport and its dysfunction in genetic forms of hypertension and hypotension. In the nervous system, they are studying the function of BNC1a, BNC1b, ASIC, DRASIC, Pickpocket and Rippedpocket in mechanosensation, nociception, and behavior. Dr. Welsh is the Director of CF Research Center which includes both NIH and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-funded programs.
Recent Publications
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Vermeer PD, McHugh J, Rokhlina T, Vermeer DW, Zabner J, Welsh MJ. Vaccinia Virus Entry, Exit, and Interaction with Differentiated Human Airway Epithelia. J Virol. 2007 Jun 20; [Epub ahead of print]
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Ben-Shahar Y, Nannapaneni K, Casavant TL, Scheetz TE, Welsh MJ. Eukaryotic operon-like transcription of functionally related genes in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jan 2;104(1):222-7. Epub 2006 Dec 26.
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Zha XM, Wemmie JA, Green SH, Welsh MJ. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a is a postsynaptic proton receptor that affects the density of dendritic spines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Oct 31;103(44):16556-61. Epub 2006 Oct 23.
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Wemmie JA, Price MP, Welsh MJ. Acid-sensing ion channels: advances, questions and therapeutic opportunities. Trends Neurosci. 2006 Oct;29(10):578-86. Epub 2006 Aug 7. Review.
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Vermeer PD, Panko L, Welsh MJ, Zabner J. erbB1 functions as a sensor of airway epithelial integrity by regulation of protein phosphatase 2A activity. J Biol Chem. 2006 Jan 20;281(3):1725-30. Epub 2005 Nov 17.