Department of Internal Medicine

Pulmonary, Critical Care and
Occupational Medicine Faculty

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Martha Monick, Ph.D.
Professor

Dr. Monick's research centers on the role of signaling pathways in pulmonary host defenses.  Her work examines pathogenesis and treatment options for a number of pulmonary diseases, with a focus on smoking-related diseases (COPD/emphysema and lung cancer) and viral infections (respiratory syncytial virus and influenza).  The projects utilize primary human lung macrophages and airway epithelial cells as laboratory models.  Current projects include studies on the effect of smoking on the cellular clearance mechanism, autophagy, the effect of nanoparticles on inflammasome activation and the role of ER stress in influenza infection.   A new research focus in the lab is the role of microRNAs and CpG DNA methylation as drivers of disease-relevant changes in gene expression.  These studies include work on microRNA profiles in smoker and nonsmoker alveolar macrophages, the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on post-translational modification of the endonuclease Dicer and the effect of smoking on CpG DNA methylation in both the lung and circulating monocytes.  As a composite, research in the Monick lab focuses on intracellular changes that contribute to disease development, progression and outcome in the lung.

Honors, Awards, and Organizations

• American Association of Immunologists, Member
• American Thoracic Society, Member
• International Cytokine Society, Member
• Society for Leukocyte Biology, Member
• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Member
• Editorial Boards
  • Journal of Immunology
  • Journal of Infectious Disease
  • Frontiers in Respiratory Pharmacology
• Best Abstract Award, ATS, 2004
• Exceptional Performance Award, University of Iowa, 2005 and 2008
• Best Abstract Awards, Internal Medicine Research Day, College of Medicine Research Day, 2011

Recent Publications

1. Reisetter AC, Stebounova LV, Baltrusaitis J, Powers L, Gupta A, Grassian VH, Monick MM.  Induction of inflammasome dependent pyroptosis by carbon black nanoparticles.  J Biol Chem.  286(24):21844-52. 2011.
2. Hansdottir S, Monick MM. Vitamin D effects on lung immunity and respiratory diseases.  Vitam. Horm. 86: 217-237. Review. 2011.
3. Groskreutz, DJ, Babor EC, Monick MM, Varga SM, Hunninghake GW.  Respiratory syncytial virus limits alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2a) phosphorylation to maintain translation and viral replication.  JBC 285(31):24023-31. PMID: 20519500. 2010. 
4. Hansdottir S, Monick MM, Lovan N, Powers L, Gerke A, Hunninghake GW.  Vitamin D decreases respiratory syncytial virus induction of NF-kappa B-linked chemokines and cytokines in airway epithelium while maintaining the antiviral state.  J Immunol. 184(2):965-74. PMID: 2000829. 2010.
5. Monick M.M., Powers LS, Walters K, Lovan N, Zhang M, Gerke A, Hansdottir S, Hunninghake GW.  Identification of an Autophagy Defect in Smokers’ Alveolar Macrophages.  J. Immunol. 185(9):5425-35. PMID: 20921532. 2010.
6. Monick, M.M., Powers, L.S., Barrett, C., Hinde, S., Ashare, A., Groskreutz, D., Nyunoya, T., Coleman, M., Spitz, D.R. and Hunninghake, G.W.  ERK MAP kinase activity is required for ATP production and mitochondrial integrity in human alveolar macrophages.  J. Immunol. 180(11):7485-96. 2008. PMID: 18490749
7. Monick, M.M., Powers, L.S., Hassan, I., Groskreutz, D., Yarovinsky, T.O., Barrett, C.W., Castilow, E.M., Tifrea, D., Varga, S.M. and Hunninghake, G.W.  Respiratory syncytial virus synergizes with Th2 cytokines to induce optimal levels of TARC/CCL 17.  J Immunol. 179(3):1648-58. 2007.

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