PARKOS and NUSRAT LABORATORIES
Epithelial Pathobiology and Mucosal Inflammation Research Unit
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
In the Parkos and Nusrat laboratories we are primarily interested in the biology of the intestinal mucosa and how this tissue functions in health and disease. The physiological role of the intestinal mucosa is to provide an adequate surface area for nutrient and fluid absorption while serving as an effective barrier to prevent entry of pathogens into the body. The mucosa also serves to reduce exposure to luminal antigens and commensal flora and plays a key role in the development of tolerance to these potential immunogens. Breakdown of the intestinal epithelial barrier is thought to precipitate or contribute to a number of gut-associated diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease (gluten sensitivity), and food allergies.
Using complementary in vivo and in vitro experimental systems, we are currently investigating various aspects of intestinal biology. Most of our studies in the group are centered on four major topics:
1. The regulation and maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier function by intercellular junctions.
2. The constant renewal of the intestinal epithelium through a controlled balance of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis (“intestinal epithelial homeostasis”).
3. The wound healing response of the intestinal mucosa which occurs through epithelial cell migration and proliferation (“wound restitution”).
4. How inflammatory processes regulate intestinal physiology, notably the effects of inflammatory cytokines and immune cells on the epithelial barrier. Furthermore, we are investigating the contribution of leukocytes (innate/adaptive immune cells) to the pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation, which is observed in diseases such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
For more information regarding the current lines of investigation in our laboratories, please check out our latest publications on www.pubmed.com by searching for "Parkos CA" or "Nusrat A" or by clicking here.
