Monica Liu

Our lab aims to understand and manipulate mechanisms of inflammatory lung injury, especially acute cellular rejection (ACR), a common complication after lung transplant. We are characterizing organoids from patients with and without ACR to reveal potential mechanisms of epithelial injury. While most studies of rejection have examined immune activation, our approach is from the angle of end-organ damage and epithelial-immune cell crosstalk. We hope this may yield new diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients. Current projects are described below; we welcome new ideas from interested students.

Dissect Epithelial-Immune Cell Crosstalk in Lung Transplant Rejection: Our group developed methods to generate airway and alveolar organoids from patients’ bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. We are determining whether epithelial organoids and BAL immune cells originate from the transplant donor or recipient. We aim to establish matched and mismatched co-cultures to study and potentially predict immune-on-epithelial attack. This project includes elements of cell biology and immunology.

Validate and Manipulate Mechanisms of Lung Transplant Rejection: We are validating candidate genes and pathways that may be important in acute cellular rejection. The goal is to narrow down to a few focused mechanisms that can be tested in our organoid systems, which may inform potential treatments. This project involves cell and molecular biology and later biochemistry and genetics.

Epigenetics of Inflammation: Our data so far suggest that cells may continue to behave differently after an episode of lung transplant rejection. We are interested in epigenomic profiling of DNA and chromatin modifications. This project incorporates cell biology, (epi)genetics, and bioinformatics.