Faculty Directory

Arlene A. Stecenko, MD

Arlene Stecenko, MD headshot

Associate Professor
Chief, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep
Department of Pediatrics
Emory University School of Medicine

EMAIL: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
PHONE: 404 712 2657

PubMed

Biography

Dr. Stecenko’s major research focus is the molecular signals that regulate the pulmonary response to injury. She has found that differential isoform expression of the transcription factor C/EBPBeta is critical in determining whether pulmonary inflammation is enhanced or terminated. She also has found that constitutive activation of another transcription factor, NF-kB, in specific lung cells is necessary to maintain normal barrier function. In another arena, Dr Stecenko is evaluating the role of chronic herpesvirus lung infection in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Prospective studies of patients with IPF are aimed at establishing viral disease causation which will be translated to testing antiviral agents as treatment for IPF. Animal studies where mice are infected with murine herpesvirus and develop progressive pulmonary fibrosis are aimed at determining the molecular mechanism whereby herpesvirus infection triggers a profibrotic response in the lung. Finally, Dr. Stecenko is studying the pathophysiology of inflammation and oxidative stress in cystic fibrosis, particularly how an excess inflammatory response may contribute to acute respiratory exacerbations in these patients as well as how oxidative stress and inflammation play a role in the development of cystic fibrosis related diabetes.

Research Center(s)