The Mikacenic lab is focused on understanding how lung immune cells contribute to inflammation, repair, and fibrosis.
Our translational approach uses well curated samples from clinical cohorts to perform deep immune profiling. We obtain alveolar lavage samples, lung tissue samples, and/or peripheral blood from patients with acute illnesses like sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We also study chronic lung conditions like interstitial lung disease and fibrosis that can occur in patients with and without autoimmune disease.
The goal of these studies is to understand how the immune system contributes to the development of lung injury or fibrosis in order to identify novel treatment strategies that will prevent or slow the progression of disease.
Carmen Mikacenic, MD
Lab Members
Holly Akilesh, PhD
Anne Chaize
Sarah Holton, MD, PhD
Eric Morrell, MD
Yize Smith-Rockne
Research Projects
Immune Checkpoints in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
We are investigating the role of the PD-L1/PD-2 pathway in ARDS pathophysiology and identifying an immune signature of patients at higher risk for poor outcomes.
Macrophage Heterogeneity and Lung Inflammation and Fibrosis
We are identifying novel macrophage subsets and investigating how they contribute to acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and interstitial lung disease.
Systems Immunology Profiling of Respiratory Viral Infections in Rheumatoid Arthritis
The lab's study in the Human Immunology Project Consortium (HIPC) is focused on understanding mucosal immune responses in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and how it differs from healthy adults.
Featured Publications
Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of eosinophils and airway immune cells in childhood asthma
J Allergy Clin Immunol
A ventilated perfused lung model platform to dissect the response of the lungs to viral infection
Trends in Biotechnology
Proteomic Analyses in COVID-19-Associated Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.
Crit Care Explor
Urinary proteomics identifies distinct immunological profiles of sepsis associated AKI sub-phenotypes.
Crit Care
Mediators of monocyte chemotaxis and matrix remodeling are associated with mortality and pulmonary fibroproliferation in patients with severe COVID-19.
PLoS One
Meet BRI's Summer 2023 Interns
Each summer, BRI hosts undergraduate interns from universities across the country. They join various BRI labs and departments to take on research projects with mentorship from our scientists. Meet this year's interns and learn about the exciting projects they worked on.
Immunology to Change Lives: Where We're Going in 2023
BRI was formed with a clear plan: First, answer key fundamental questions about the immune system. Then, build on those answers to change lives. This is a very exciting time because we’re reaching that second stage of the plan.
$11.4 Million to Explore Link Between Viruses and Immune System Diseases
Understanding how viruses impact the immune system has long been a focus at BRI. Two years of pandemic life have made answering two questions particularly important: Can respiratory viruses like the common cold or COVID-19 start the chain reaction that leads to immune system disease?
News
Discovering immune mechanisms that contribute to progressive pulmonary fibrosis
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BRI Investigators Jane Buckner, MD, and Carmen Mikacenic, MD, Interviewed on the Arthritis Life Podcast
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