Physiology

QIHAI (DAVID) GU, M.D. Assistant Professor M.D. Binzhou Medical College, China, 1993 Office: MS-506 Medical Center 0298 Tel: (859) 257-3437 E-mail: qgu2@uky.edu Curriculum Vita (pdf)

Most of the sensory inputs arising from airways and lungs are conducted in vagus nerves and their branches. It is known that >75% of vagal bronchopulmonary afferents are non-myelinated (C-) fibers. Hypersensitivity of these C-fiber afferents plays an important role in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness associated with airway mucosal injury or inflammation. Our primary interest is to uncover the neurogenic mechanisms involved in pulmonary pathophysiological conditions such as asthma, lung carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and therefore to offer new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these respiratory diseases. Electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches, cell- and molecular-biology techniques are used in our laboratory.

Recent publications:

Gu Q, Wiggers ME, Gleich GJ, Lee LY. Sensitization of isolated rat vagal pulmonary sensory neurons by eosinophil-derived cationic proteins. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 294: L544-552, 2008.

Gu Q, Ni D, Lee LY. Expression of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rat vagal pulmonary sensory neurons. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 161: 87–91, 2008.

Gu Q, Lin YS, Lee LY. Epinephrine enhances the sensitivity of rat vagal chemosensitive neurons: role of Β3-adrenoceptor. J Appl Physiol 102: 1545-1555, 2007.

Gu Q, Lee LY. Hypersensitivity of pulmonary chemosensitive neurons induced by activation of protease-activated receptor-2 in rats. J Physiol 574: 867-876, 2006.

Gu Q, Lee LY. Characterization of acid-signaling in rat vagal pulmonary sensory neurons. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 291: L58-65, 2006.

Other Publications