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Dianne McKay, MD

Professor of Immunology & Microbiology

Department of Immunology and Microbiology

Dianne McKay, MD

Research Focus

Unraveling the immune triggers of ischemic kidney injury

The McKay laboratory works to understand the immunologic mechanisms that lead to ischemia-induced tissue injury, with a particular interest in the innate immune system in kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). The overall goal is to discover new and effective targets to protect ischemic kidneys from injury accompanying interrupted renal blood flow.

Using both ex vivo and in vivo experimental approaches, we study stress responses in human and murine renal tubular epithelial cells in order to extend our understanding of the innate immune system as a key initiator of tissue injury. Our work is aimed to provide new knowledge about how activation of membrane-bound and intracellular innate immune receptors contribute to ischemic kidney damage.

Select Publications

  • Ulevitch, Richard; Own, Jason; Mckay, Dianne CD14 blockade to prevent ischemic injury to donor organs.. Transplant immunology 2022, 72, 101580.

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  • Stocks, Lisa M.; Mckay, Dianne B.; Kurian, Sunil M.; Kasimsetty, Sashi G.; Hawkes, Alana A.; Dewolf, Sean E. DAMPs Released From Injured Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells Activate Innate Immune Signals in Healthy Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells.. Transplantation 2022, 106, 1589-1599.

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  • Soo, E; Welch, A; Marsh, C; McKay, D B. Molecular strategies used by hibernators: Potential therapeutic directions for ischemia reperfusion injury and preservation of human donor organs. 2020, 34, 100512.

  • Kasimsetty, Sashi G.; Shigeoka, Alana A A.; Scheinok, Andrew A A.; Gavin, Amanda L.; Ulevitch, Richard J.; McKay, Dianne B. Lack of Both Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain-Containing Proteins 1 and 2 Primes T Cells for Activation-Induced Cell Death. 2017, 199, 1196-1205.

  • Soo, Elizabeth; Marsh, Christopher; Steiner, Robert; Stocks, Lisa; McKay, Dianne B. Optimizing organs for transplantation; advancements in perfusion and preservation methods. 2020, 34, 100514.

  • Kasimsetty, Sashi G.; McKay, Dianne B. Ischemia as a factor affecting innate immune responses in kidney transplantation. 2016, 25, 3-11.
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