Peter Henson, Ph.D. Professor Departments of Pathology and Pharmacology Campus Box A004 National Jewish Medical Research Center, Room D508 S/M Pulmonary Sciences/Critical Care Med Ph: (303) 398-1380 hensonp@njc.org

Research Interests:

1. Cell Biology of Inflammation. Studies in our laboratory group focus on the initiation, progression and resolution of the inflammatory process extending from the biochemical and molecular to animal systems and patient investigation.

2. Recognition and removal of apoptotic cells. Cell deletion is a critical process in development, tissue remodeling and homeostasis, resolution of inflammation and regulation of the immune system. Apoptosis results in cell surface changes that are recognized in part by elements of the innate immune system and which result in engulfment of the apoptotic cell. Most cell types can engulf apoptotic cells by unique and highly conserved processes. In addition, the removal is accompanied by active suppression of inflammation and adaptive immunity. Investigation of these processes and their consequences is a major focus of our program.

3. Innate immunity. A longstanding interest in the innate immune system, especially as it relates to the function of mononuclear phagocytes (macrophages), helps tie apoptotic cell clearance and inflammation together. The links between inflammation and initiation of adaptive immunity are a related subject for investigation.

4. The female mammalian reproductive system undergoes significant tissue remodeling at various stages of development, pregnancy and lactation, all of which involve or suppress the processes outlined above and are, therefore, ripe for related investigation.

Selected Publications

1. Gardai, S. J., Xiao, Y. Q., Dickinson, M., Nick, J. A., Voelker, D. R., Greene, K. E., and Henson, P. M. (2003). By binding SIRPa or calreticulin/CD91, lung collectins act as dual function surveillance molecules to suppress or enhance inflammation. Cell 115(1), 13-23.

2. Wang, X., Wu, Y. C., Fadok, V. A., Lee, M. C., Gengyo-Ando, K., Cheng, L. C., Ledwich, D., Hsu, P. K., Chen, J. Y., Chou, B. K., Henson, P., Mitani, S., and Xue, D. (2003). Cell corpse engulfment mediated by C. elegans phosphatidylserine receptor through CED-5 and CED-12. Science 302(5650), 1563-6.

3. Gardai, S. J., Whitlock, B. B., Xiao, Y. Q., Bratton, D. B., and Henson, P. M. (2004). Oxidants inhibit ERK/MAPK and prevent its ability to delay neutrophil apoptosis downstream of mitochondrial changes and at the level of XIAP. J Biol Chem 279(43), 44695-703.

4. Manaka, J., Kuraishi, T., Shiratsuchi, A., Nakai, Y., Higashida, H., Henson, P., and Nakanishi, Y. (2004). Draper-mediated and phosphatidylserine-independent phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by Drosophila hemocytes/macrophages. J Biol Chem 279(46), 48466-76.

6. Gardai, S. J., McPhillips, K. A., Frasch, C., Janssen, W. J., Starefeldt, A., Murphy-Ullrich, J. E., Bratton, D. L., Oldenborg, P.-A., Michalak, M., and Henson, P. M. (2005). Cell surface calreticulin initiates clearance of viable or apoptotic cells through trans activation of LRP on the phagocyte. Cell In Press.

Latest Publications in PubMed