Davis Volk, MD
Research Profile

Education and Training

1992-1996   Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA   Biochemistry & Chemistry Summa Cum Laude, B.A.
1996-2000   University of Iowa College of Medicine Medicine, MD
2000-2003   University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics   Residency (Pediatrics)
2003-2006   University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics   Fellowship (Critical Care)

Research Interests:
The Volk laboratory studies innate immunity, focusing on neutrophil function. The requirement for normal PMN function in the innate immune response has been demonstrated unequivocally. PMN chemotaxis is essential during the immune response to sepsis. The anion transporters ClC-3 and IClswell appear to be required for normal PMN chemotaxis. The central hypothesis of this work is that cell volume regulation via the swelling-induced chloride current, IClswell, is required for normal PMN chemotaxis and that ClC-3 modulates this process. Several key neutrophil functions, including chemotaxis, transendothelial migration, phagocytosis and priming, are studied using a variety of techniques. Neutrophil chemotaxis is our primary interest and this is studied using two complimentary assays, the high-through-put EZ-TAXIScan and the high-resolution Dynamic Imaging Analysis System (DIAS).

Lab Members:

• Jessica Moreland, MD (Mentor)
• Fred Lamb, M.D., Ph.D. (Co-Mentor)
• Christine Heise (Volk lab Research Assistant)
• Jessica Hook (Moreland lab Research Assistant)
• Brieanna Barber (Moreland lab Research Assistant)

Affiliations:

• Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care
• Inflammation Program
• Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease
• Veteran's Administration

Model System:
The primary model systems used in the Davis laboratory include:

• Human neutrophils treated with pharmacological inhibitors of the anion channels ClC-3 and IClswell.
• Murine neutrophils from wild type and ClC-3 knock-out mice developed in the Lamb laboratory.

Recent Publications:

1. Femling JK, Cherny VV, Morgan D, Rada BK, Davis AP, Czirjàk G, Enyedi P, England SK, Moreland JG, Ligeti E, Nauseef WM, Decoursey TE: The antibacterial activity of human neutrophils and eosinophils requires proton channels but not BK channels. 2005. Journal of General Physiology 127: 659-672.
2. Moreland JG, Davis AP, Bailey G, Nauseef WM, Lamb FS: Anion channels including ClC-3 are essential for neutrophil oxidative function, phagocytosis, and transendothelial migration. 2006. Journal of Biological Chemistry 281(18):12277-12288.
3. Moreland JG, Davis AP, Matsuda JJ, Hook JS, Bailey G, Nauseef WM, Lamb FS. : Endotoxin priming of neutrophils requires NADPH-oxidase generated oxidants and is regulated by the anion transporter ClC-3. 2007. Journal of Biological Chemistry 281(47):33958-33967.
4. Volk APD, Heise CK, Hougen JL, Artman CM, Wessels D, Soll SR, Nauseef NM, Lamb FS, Moreland JG: ClC-3 and IClswell are required for normal neutrophil chemotaxis and shape change. 2008. Under revision, Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Electronic Publications:

1. Davis AP: Review of Malerba, G., Romano-Girard, F., Cravoisy, A., Dousset, B., Nace, L., Levy, B., Bollaert, P.: Risk factors of relative adrenocortical deficiency in intensive care patients needing mechanical ventilation. Intensive Care Medicine. 31:388-392. 2005. http://pedsCCM.wustl.edu/EBJ/PREDICTION/Malerba-adrenal.hmtl Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Evidence-Based Journal Club.
2. D'Alessandro DM, Davis AP. What are the Current Recommendations for Treatment of Acute Traumatic Head Injury?. PediatricEducation.org. Available from the Internet at: http://www.pediatriceducation.org/2007/11/05 (rev. 11/5/07, cited 11/5/07).