Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Ph.D.

Professor

 Department of Surgery

Joint Professor

Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy

Director, Alcohol Research Program

Investigator, Burn & Shock Trauma Institute

Member, Immunology and Aging Program

Member, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Program

B.A.   Reed College

Ph.D.  University of Vermont

Post-doctoral Fellowship    National Institutes of Health

EMAIL

Current Interests

Laboratory Focus

            "Inflamm-aging” - Advanced age is associated with increased inflammation and decreased immune responsiveness in a process which involves aberrant production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNFa), by macrophages. We are currently examining age-dependent defects in Toll-like receptor (TLR) mediated signal transduction pathways, including mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) in macrophages from young and aged subjects. Estrogen replacement in aged subjects improves immune responses. Studies are underway to investigate whether manipulating the hormone milieu improves cytokine production and immunity in healthy aged subjects and after injury.

Alcohol and cellular responses to tissue damage - Exposure to alcohol, even on an acute basis, causes changes in inflammatory responses and cell mediated immune function even in the absence of injury. This renders the host less able to tolerate injury or fend off infectious organisms. We are currently examining the effects of ethanol exposure on systemic and organ specific inflammatory responses, with a focus on the lung since that organ is highly susceptible to respiratory pathogens as well as the vascular compartment. Additionally, since there are gender differences in both immune function and in responses to alcohol exposure, we are studying whether there are gender differences in inflammation and immunity after the combined insult of ethanol and injury.

Publications

Plackett, T.P., Boehmer, E.D., Faunce, D.E., and Kovacs, E.J.  Aging and innate

immune cells. J. Leukoc. Biol. 76:291-299, 2004.

Choudhry, M.A., Rana, S.N., Kavanaugh, M.J., Kovacs, E.J., Gamelli, R.L., and Sayeed,

M.M.  Impaired intestinal immunity and barrier function: a cause for enhanced

 bacterial translocation in alcohol intoxication and burn injury. Alcohol 33:199-208, 2004.

Emanuele, N.V., LaPaglia, N., Kovacs, E.J. and Emanuele, M.A.    The impact of

 burn injury and ethanol on the cytokine network of the mouse hypothalamus: Reproductive

 implications.  Cytokine 30:109-115, 2005.

Kovacs, E.J., Faunce, DE, and Messingham, KAN.    Ethanol and burn injury:

 Estrogen modulation of immunity.  Alcohol 33:209-216, 2004..

Goral, J. and Kovacs, E.J.    In vivo ethanol exposure down-regulates TLR2-,

TLR4-, and TLR9-mediated macrophage inflammatory response by limiting p38 and

 ERK1/2 activation.  J. Immunol.  174:456-463, 2005.. 

Kovacs, E.J., Plackett, T.P. and Witte, P.L.  2004. Estrogen replacement, aging, and cell-

mediated immunity after injury. J. Leukoc. Biol. 76:36-41.

Kovacs, E.J.  2005. Aging, traumatic injury, and estrogen treatment.  Expt. Gerontol.

 40:549-555.

Boehmer, E.D., Meehan M.J., Cutro, B.T., and Kovacs, E.J.    Aging defects in

 macrophage signaling are limited to TLR-mediated MAPK pathways.  Mech. Aging

 Devel., 2005.