Research:

We study cardiovascular and respiratory system responses to air pollutant exposure, particularly to second-hand smoke and petrochemical combustion products. A recent focus has been on the relationship between in utero exposure to these pollutants and subsequent potentiation of atherosclerotic and allergic responses. We use molecular biology, microscopy (light, fluorescence, ultrastructural), analytical chemistry and immunocytochemistry techniques to investigate the mechanisms underlying the pathologic and functional responses to these environmental exposures.

Recent Publications:

Murphy G, Rouse R, Polk W, Henk W, Barker S, Boudreaux M, Floyd Z and Penn A. Combustion-derived hydrocarbons localize to lipid droplets in respiratory cells. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, in press. Doi:10.1165/rcmb.2007-02040c [online 13 December 2007].

Rouse R, Boudreaux M and Penn A. In utero environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure alters gene expression in lungs of adult Balb/c mice. Environmental Health Perspectives, in press; doi:10.1289/ehp.10358. [Online 19 September 2007]

Penn A, Rouse R, Horohov D, Paulsen D., Lomax L and Kearney, M. In utero exposure to environmental tobacco smoke potentiates adult responses to allergen in Balb/c mice. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115: 548-555 (2007).

Penn A, Murphy G, Barker S, Henk W and Penn, L. Combustion-derived ultrafine particles transport organic toxicants to target respiratory cells. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113: 956-963 (2005).

Yang, Z, Knight, C, Mamerow, M, Vickers, K, Penn, A, Postlethwait, E and Ballinger, S. Prenatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure promotes adult atherogenesis and mitochondrial damage in apoE-/- mice fed a chow diet. Circulation, 110: 3715-3720 (2004)