Thiennu H. Vu, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of California San Francisco
UCSF Mission Bay
Box 2911, Rock Hall 584C
San Francisco, California 94107
phone: (415) 514-4266
fax: (415) 514-4365
email: tvu@medsfgh.ucsf.edu
Dr. Vu received her M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco in 1991 after completion of the Medical Scientist Training Program. She completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego and a Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UCSF. Besides engaging in basic research, she also practices clinical medicine, serving as attending physician in the Chest clinic and on the Pulmonary Consult Service and the medical ICU at San Francisco General Hospital.
Research Interests
My laboratory focuses on the following areas of study:
1) The role of the vasculature in organogenesis: We are interested in the molecular mechanisms of tissue vascularization and the role of the vasculature in tissue formation. Our hypothesis is that there are reciprocal inductive interactions between the tissue and its vasculature during organogenesis. This is strongly suggested in the lungs by the intimate relationship between airways and lung blood vessels, which is critical for normal lung function. Our goals are to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate the cross talk between epithelium and mesenchyme to coordinate airway and vessel development during lung formation.
2) The development of pulmonary alveoli: Another area of interest of the lab is the development of the distal lung, namely, the formation of alveoli. These are key functional units of the lungs where gas exchange takes place, yet the regulation of alveolar morphogenesis is not well understood. Our hypothesis is that since the formation of alveoli occurs in a defined period, genes that regulate alveolar morphogenesis must be differentially expressed during periods of active and inactive alveolar formation. We are attempting to identify genes that regulate alveolar development by isolating genes differentially expressed between these stages. The role of candidate genes will then be tested using gain- and loss-of function studies both in vitro and in vivo.
3) The development and function of lung myofibroblasts: Lung myofibroblasts are interstitial smooth muscle-like cells that are essential for alveolar development. They are also implicated in the pathogenesis of many lung diseases including pulmonary fibrosis. The regulation of myofibroblast development and function is not well understood. We are interested in identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate myofibroblasts in development and in disease.
4) The biology of lung progenitor and stem cells: As a rule the adult lungs do not regenerate and the response to lung injury in many cases is fibrosis. We are interested in identifying whether there are populations of progenitor or stem cells in the adult lungs that can be stimulated to repair and regenerate damaged lungs. We are also interested in identifying conditions that support the growth and differentiation of resident lung progenitor and stem cells or that induce bone marrow derived stem cells to populate and regenerate lung tissues.
Selected Publications
Zhao, L., K. Wang, N. Ferrara, and T.H. Vu (2005). Vascular endothelial growth factor coordinates proper development of lung epithelium and vasculature. Mechanisms of Development 122:877-886. [Pubmed]
Pauling, M. and T.H. Vu (2004). Mechanisms and regulation of lung vascular development. Current Topics in Developmental Biology 64:73-99. [Pubmed]
Wang, K., H. Yamamoto, J.R. Chin, Z. Werb, and T.H. Vu (2004). Epidermal growth factor receptor-deficient mice have delayed primary endochondral ossification because of defective osteoclast recruitment. Journal of Biological Chemistry 279:53848-53856. [Pubmed]
Vu, T. H., Y. Alemayehu, and Z. Werb (2003). New insights into saccular development and vascular formation in lung allografts under the renal capsule, Mechanisms of Development120:305-313. [Pubmed]
Vu, T. H., and Z. Werb (2000). Matrix metalloproteinases: effectors of development and physiology, Genes and Development 14: 2123-2133. [Full text]
Gerber, H-P., Vu, T. H., Ryan, A. M., Kowalski, J., Hillan, K. J., Werb. Z., and N. Ferrara (1999). VEGF couples hypertrophic cartilage remodeling, ossification, and angiogenesis during endochondral bone formation, Nature Medicine 5:623-628. [Abstract][Full Text]
Vu, T.H., Shipley, J. M., Bergers, G., Bergers, J., Helms, J., Hanahan, D., Shapiro, S., Senior, R., and Z. Werb (1998). MMP-9/Gelatinase B is a key regulator of growth plate angiogenesis and hypertrophic chondrocyte apoptosis. Cell 93: 411-422. [Pubmed]
Vu, T. H., and Z. Werb (1998). Gelatinase B: structure, regulation, and function. In: Biology of Extracellular Matrix-Matrix Metalloproteinases. William C. Parks and Robert P. Mecham, eds., Academic Press, pp 115-148.
Yamamoto, H., Yun, E. J., Ferrara, N., Whitsett, J.A., and T.H. Vu (2007). Epithelial-vascular cross talk mediated by VEGF-A and HGF signaling directs septae formation during distal lung morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 308:44-53.
Zhao, L., Leung, J.K., Yamamoto, H., Goswami, S., Kheradmand, F., and T.H. Vu (2006). Identification of P311 as a potential gene regulating alveolar generation. Am. J. Resp. Cell Mol. Biol. 35:48-54.
