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Research Focus

My laboratory is focused on investigating the therapeutic and mechanistic effects of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in experimental models of lung injury and sepsis due to pneumonia.  This is one of the most common causes of death among critically ill patients in intensive care units, and the mortality rate is still above 40% in the most severe cases.  New therapies are needed for this syndrome that has no proven pharmacological intervention. 

Bone marrow derived MSCs are multipotent progenitor cells that have been shown to have a wide range of protective and reparative effects in experimental models of lung injury and sepsis.  These effects are related to the MSCs ability to modulate excessive inflammatory responses to infection, augment host defense to infection, and secrete growth factors to support the function of the lung epithelium and endothelium during injury.  

Further work is being done to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects confered by MSCs in experimental models of lung injury and sepsis.  In addition, through a collaborative effort with an industry partner, pre-clinical work is being done in order to translate MSC based therapies to critically ill patients.

Professional Experience

1992-96 Stanford University BS Biological Sciences
1996-00 University of Michigan MD Medicine
2000-03 University of Michigan Internal Medicine Residency
2003-06 Univ of CA, San Francisco Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship
2006-08 Univ of CA, San Francisco Post-doctoral research fellowship

Awards & Professional Activities

2006 California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Post-Doctoral Fellowship
2008 Parker B Francis Fellowship Award in Pulmonary Research
2009 NIH Clinical Scientist Career Development Award (K08)

Selected References

1. Gupta N, Su X, Popov B, Serikov V, Matthay MA.  Intrapulmonary Delivery of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Survival and Attenuates Endotoxin-induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice.  J Immunol 179: 1855-1863, 2007 (PMID: 17641052)
2. Lee JW, Fang X, Gupta N, Serikov V, Matthay MA.  Allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of E. coli endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in the ex-vivo perfused human lung. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106: 16357-16362, 2009 (PMID: 19721001)
3. Krasnodembskaya A, Song Y, Fang X, Gupta N, Serikov V, Lee JW, Matthay MA.  Antibacterial effect of human mesenchymal stem cells is mediated in part from secretion of the antimicrobial protein LL-37.  Stem Cells 28: 2229-2238, 2010 (PMID: 20945332)
4. Gupta N, Krasnodembskaya A, Mouded M, Tan X, Serikov V, Matthay MA.  Mesenchymal stem cells enhance survival and bacterial clearance in murine E. coli pneumonia.  Thorax 67: 533-539, 2012 (PMID: 22250097)