Rebuilding lungs, one cell at a time

Working to understand lung injury in order to enhance lung regeneration.

The Vaughan lab’s research is focused on defining and understanding the relevant cell types and molecular mechanisms by which the mammalian lung is able to regenerate after severe injury. We are especially interested in elucidating the means by which epithelial and endothelial progenitor cells contribute to the restoration of airway and alveolar units after viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Our lab utilizes cutting edge molecular and cellular biology techniques to better understand how pulmonary epithelial and endothelial compartments respond to lung injury. We are especially interested in how alternative, “emergency” cell lineages are recruited in severe injury settings (H1N1 influenza, SARS-CoV-2) and how the fate of these cells can be manipulated toward more functionally beneficial endpoints. Additionally, compared to the epithelium, surprisingly little is known as to the most relevant progenitor cell types involved in repair of the pulmonary vascular endothelium, so several projects in the lab are focused on lung vascular (especially alveolar capillary) repair after viral pneumonia.

We have become increasingly interested in epithelial – immune cell crosstalk, as evidenced by our recent discovery of tuft cell (AKA solitary chemosensory cell) expansion into the distal lung after influenza infection.  These cells are responsible for orchestrating Type 2 immune responses and likely play a key role in lung inflammatory diseases, especially asthma.  Moreover, paracrine signals derived from tuft cells may impact the behavior of adjacent epithelial progenitor cells.  Our ongoing studies are aimed at describing the dynamics and heterogeneity within chemosensory cell populations in response to various pathogens and demonstrating how tuft cells orchestrate inflammation and potentially promote chronic inflammatory lung disease. 

Dr. Vaughan is part of the Cell and Molecular Biology / Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology (CAMB/DSRB) graduate group and is a member of the Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IRM), the Penn / CHOP Lung Biology Institute (LBI), and the Penn Institute for Immunology (IFI).

Dr. Vaughan is currently seeking new graduate students and research specialists to join his laboratory team. He welcomes inquiries for potential rotations from incoming students. Contact Dr. Vaughan directly at andrewva@vet.upenn.edu.

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Pathways and Methods to Promote Lung Vascular Regeneration

Read the paper here!

Macrophage Targeting with Lipid Nanoparticles to Treat Influenza

A fantastic collab with the Mitchell Lab!

Read the paper here!

Epithelial plasticity (or lack thereof!) in lung repair

Read the paper here!

Sex differences in lung epithelium (a wonderful collaboration with the Anguera lab)

Read the paper here!

Whoa, lung tuft cells are really weird

Read the paper here!

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Pulmonary vascular endothelial regeneration

Read the paper here!

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Alveolar progenitor cell culture and transplant methods

Read the paper here!

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Influenza-induced tuft cells

Read the papers here!