Publications
Learn more about key research findings at Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Science (SQLIFTS) through these selected publications.
SQLIFTS boasts three researchers, Navdeep Chandel, PhD, Mark Hersam, PhD, and Richard Wunderink, MD, on Clarivate's 2024 list of highly cited researchers.
Code repositories can be accessed here. See more publications on PubMed.
Insights into PASC
An SQLIFTS study of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) uncovered an association between severity of fibrosis and abundance of monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages (MoAMs) in the lungs. However, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed similar transcriptional profiles in MoAMs whether the patient's fibrosis resolved or worsened. These findings were published in Nature Immunology. Learn more here.
- Bailey JI, Puritz CH, Senkow KJ, et al. Profibrotic monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages are expanded in patients with persistent respiratory symptoms and radiographic abnormalities after COVID-19. Nature Immunology. 2024; 25(11):2097-2109.
New Blood Test for Severe Lung Disease
Investigators at SQLIFTS have developed a blood test to detect a proteomic signature identifying adults at high risk of developing severe lung disease. This study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
- Liu GT, et al. Proteomic risk score of increased respiratory susceptibility: A multi-cohort study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2024; doi: 10.1164/rccm.202403-0613OC (online ahead of print).
Aging and Transcript Length
In research published in Nature Aging, investigators at SQLIFTS discovered an association between biological aging and decreased expression of longer genes. These findings were further discussed in an article published in Trends in Genetics. Learn more here.
- Stoeger T, et al. Aging is associated with a systemic length-associated transcriptome imbalance. Nature Aging. 2022; 2(12):1191-1206.
- Time is ticking faster for long genes in aging. Trends in Genetics. 2024; 40(4):299-312.
Understanding COVID-19
SQLIFTS investigators developed a model, published in Nature, to explain the unique pathobiology of COVID-19, and have identified secondary bacterial pneumonia as an important contributor to outcomes in patients with COVID-19 in a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. SQLIFTS investigators also identified distinct T cell responses that correlate with outcome in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in a study published in Nature Immunology.
- Grant RA, Morales-Nebreda L, Markov NS, et al. Circuits between infected macrophages and T cells in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Nature. 2021; 590(7847):635-641.
- Pickens CO, et al. Bacterial superinfection pneumonia in patients mechanically ventilated for COVID-19 pneumonia. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2021; 204(8):921-932.
- Markov NS, et al. Distinctive evolution of alveolar T cell responses is associated with clinical outcomes in unvaccinated patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Nature Immunology. 2024; 25(9):1607-1622.
Insights into Lung Epithelial Cell Fate
In research published in Nature, SQLIFTS investigators determined that dysfunctional mitochondria disrupt cell differentiation during lung development. These findings could open new avenues for treatments of viral pneumonia or pulmonary fibrosis.
- Han S, et al. Mitochondrial integrated stress response controls lung epithelial cell fate. Nature. 2023; 620(7975):890-897.
Cellular Metabolism and Lung Cancer
Investigators at SQLIFTS have made key contributions to our understanding of how cellular metabolism can be targeted as a treatment for lung cancer, in a study published in Nature.
- Martínez-Reyes I, et al. Mitochondrial ubiquinol oxidation is necessary for tumour growth. Nature. 2020; 585(7824):288-292.
Understanding Healthcare-Related Disparities
An SQLIFTS study published in Annals of Internal Medicine uncovered a systematic bias in the tests used to target patients for lung cancer screening which have led to important changes in policy.
- Liu GY, et al. Comparing racial differences in emphysema prevalence among adults with normal spirometry: A secondary data analysis of the CARDIA lung study. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2022; 175(8):1118-1125.
Lung Transplantation for Patients With COVID-19
Foundational discoveries led by SQLIFTS investigators and published in Science Translational Magazine during the pandemic supported our decision to perform the first lung transplant for a patient dying from COVID-19. We have since performed more than 40 such procedures, reporting our findings nationally, including in JAMA.
- Bharat A, et al. Lung transplantation for patients with severe COVID-19. Science Translational Medicine. 2020; 12(574):eabe4282.
- Kurihara C, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome who underwent lung transplant. JAMA. 2022; 327(7):652-661.