Description of Research Expertise

"Abnormal Mitochondrial Function in Acute Care Illness in a Translational Approach from Bench to Bedside."

We are interested in studying the interaction of mitochondrial function in the area of acute care that includes sepsis and acute poisoning. We are currently taking a translational approach studying the mitochondria at a cell-based level, to various animal models, all the way to the clinical setting actively enrolling patients with these acute medical conditions with the goal to develop better prognostic measures with the potential for mitochondrial-directed therapy.

Our lab has the latest models of the O2k-FluoRespirometer (O2k-Series H), Western blotting, confocal microscopy to study mitochondrial function in both in vitro and in vivo models with a focus on mitochondrial-directed therapies using substrate prodrugs. Relevant in vivo platforms include zebrafish, murine and porcine models of acute critical care illnesses that also combine state of the art physiological monitoring such as PV loop catheters providing realtime physiological data to be linked with cellular function. Our other interests also utilize the use of blood cells as proxy of organ cellular function as a type of biomarker which may provide prognostic function and allow clinicians to better gauge response to therapy.

Combining these elements we aim to better understand the complex interactions of both bioenergetics in issues of acute care to better improve patient care and outcomes.

This work is supported by:
1. R01HL166592 (Jang, PI)
2. R21ES031243 (Jang, PI)
3. R56HL158696 (Jang, PI)

Selected Publications

Alomaja O, Shofer FS, Greenwood JC, Piel S, Clayman C, Mesaros C, Kao SH, Shin SS, Ehinger JK, Kilbaugh TK, Jang DH: Alteration in Cerebral Metabolism in a Rodent Model of Acute Sub-lethal Cyanide Poisoning J Med Toxicol : 2023.

Piel S, Janowska JI, Ward JL, McManus MJ, Aronowitz DI, Janowski PK, Starr J, Hook JN, Hefti MM, Clayman CL, Elmer E, Hansson MJ, Jang DH, Karlsson M, Ehinger JK, Kilbaugh TJ: Succinate prodrugs as treatment for acute metabolic crisis during fluoroacetate intoxication in the rat Mol Cell Biochem : 2022.

Piel S, Janowska JI, Ward JL, McManus MJ, Jose JS, Starr J, Clayman CL, Jang DH, Karlsson M, Ehinger JK, Kilbaugh TJ.: Succinate prodrugs in combination with atropine and pralidoxime protect cerebral mitochondrial function in a rodent model of acute organophosphate poisoning. Sci Rep. 12 (1): 2022.

Shin S, Chawla S, Jang DH, Mazandi V, Weeks KM, Kilbaugh TJ: Imaging of while matter injury correlates with plasma and tissue biomarkers in pediatric porcine model of traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma. : 74-85,2023.

Alistair L, Forti RM, Alomaja O, Mesaros C, Piel S, Greenwood JC, Tabul F, Mavroudis CD, Kelly M, Kao S, Shofer FS, Ehinger JK, Kilbaugh TJ, Baker WB, Jang DH: Preliminary Research: Application of non-invasive measure of cytochrome c oxidase redox states and mitochondrial function in a porcine model of carbon monoxide poisoning. Journal of Medical Toxicology : 2022.

Jang DH, Piel S, Greenwood JC, Ehinger JK, Kilbaugh TJ: Emerging Cellular-Based Therapies in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. : 2021.

Jang DH, Piel S, Greenwood JC, Kelly M, Mazandi VM, Ranganathan A, Lin Y, Starr J, Hallowell T, Shofer FS, Baker WB, Lafontant A, Andersen K, Ehinger J, Kilbaugh TJ: Alterations in cerebral and cardiac mitochondrial function in a porcine model of acute carbon monoxide poisoning Clinical Toxicology : 2021.

Janowska JI, Piel S, Saliba N, Kim CD, Jang DH, Karlsson M, Kilbaugh TJ, Ehinger JK: N-methyl carbamate-induced mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I dysfunction ex vivo can be alleviated with a cell-permeable succinate prodrug. Toxicol In Vitro : 2020.

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Academic Contact Information

Department of Emergency Medicine Research Offices
Blockley Hall
423 Guardian Drive, Room 415

Lab:
The Resuscitation Science Center (RSC)
Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Pediatric Research Center
Lab 814
3615 Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Philadelphia, PA 19104