Untitled Document

Research

Keith C. Meyer

M.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Professor, Department of Medicine
kcm@medicine.wisc.edu
http://www2.medicine.wisc.edu/home/people-search/people/staff/956/MEYER_KEITH_C/

Respiratory Function and Advancing Age

Lung function gradually deteriorates with advancing age and appears to be a natural process that occurs even in the absence of exposure to tobacco or other substances capable of promoting lung irritation and inflammation. Some of these changes are similar to those associated with emphysema, although to a milder degree. My research has focused on the immune system in the lung and what factors may contribute to age-associated decline in lung function and increased susceptibility to lung infection. I have found that the quantity and profile of immune cells and proteins retrieved from the lungs of older, seemingly healthy individuals differ from that of younger, healthy subjects. Older individuals have increased numbers of inflammatory cells and proteins in their lung secretions compared to younger individuals, and I have postulated that "low-grade inflammation" in older individuals may play a role in the gradual decline in lung function that occurs in association with advancing age.

A decline in the production of a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that appears to be important for maintaining the rich network of small blood vessels in the lung, has been found in patients who have emphysema. I have found that a decline in VEGF concentrations in lung secretions is associated with advancing age, suggesting that altered production of VEGF may be linked to the milder, emphysema-like changes that occur in the aging lung. Investigations such as these may provide insights that allow pharmacologic interventions to be developed that prevent or blunt age-associated deterioration in lung structure and function as well as bolster resistance to respiratory tract infections in the elderly individual.

I am also interested in clinical aspects of the association of advancing age and susceptibility to lung infection or other disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Special consideration needs to be given to the diagnosis and treatment of infectious and non-infectious pulmonary disorders when they occur in an elderly individual.

Representative Publications
Bobadilla, J.L., Love, R.B., Jankowska-Gan, E., Xu, Q., Haynes, L.D., Braun, R.K., Hayney, M.S., del Rio, A., deOliveira, N., Meyer, K., et al. (2008). TH-17, monokines, collagen type V, and primary graft dysfunction in lung transplantation. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 177, 660-668.

Peikert, T., Daniels, C.E., Beebe, T.J., Meyer, K.C., & Ryu, J.H. (2008). Assessment of current practice in the diagnosis and therapy of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respir. Med., 102(9), 1342-8.

McCartney, J., & Meyer, K.C. (2008). Optimizing post-transplant outcomes in lung transplantation. Expert Rev. Resp. Med., 2, 183-199.

Polomis, D., Runo, J.R., & Meyer, K.C. (2008). Pulmonary hypertension in interstitial lung disease. Curr. Opin. Pulm. Med., 14(5), 462-9.

Halsey, K.D., Wald, A., Meyer, K.C., Torrealba, J.R., & Gaumnitz, E.A. (2008). Non-acidic Supraesophageal reflux associated with diffuse alveolar damage and allograft dysfunction after lung transplantation: A case report. J. Heart Lung Transplant., 27(5), 564-7.

Osaki, S., Maloney, J.D., Meyer, K.C., Cornwell, R.D., Edwards, N.M., & De Oliveira, N.C. (2008). Redo lung transplantation for acute and chronic lung allograft failure: long-term follow-up in a single center. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., 34(6), 1191-7.

Burlingham, W.J., Love, R.B., Jankowska-Gan, E., Haynes, L.D., Xu, Q., Bobadilla, J.L., Meyer, K.C., Hayney, M.S., Braun, R.K., Greenspan, D.S., Gopalakrishnan, B., Yoshida, S., Brand, D.D., Smith, G.N., Jr., Cummings, O.W., Cai, J., & Wilkes, D.S. (2007). Col V specific, IL17- and monokine-dependent cellular immunity predisposes to obliterative bronchiolitis after lung transplantation. J. Clin. Invest., 117(11), 3498-3506.

Hayes, D. Jr., & Meyer, K.C. (2007). Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in elderly patients: pathogenesis, diagnosis and management. Drugs Aging, 24(7), 555-72.

Tsao, F.H.C., Shanmuganayagam, D., Zachman, D.K., Khosravi, M., Folts, J.D., & Meyer, K.C. (2007). A continuous fluorescence assay for the determination of calcium-dependent secretory phospholipase A2 activity in serum. Clinica Chimica Acta, 379, 119-126.

Meyer, K.C. (2007). Bronchoalveolar lavage as a diagnostic tool. Semin. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 28(5), 546-60.

Meyer, K. (2007). Diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, part 1: Presentation and diagnosis. J. Respir. Dis., 28, 283-292.

Meyer, K. (2007). Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, part 2: The current approach to treatment. J. Respir. Dis., 28, 331-338.

Spahr, J.E., Love, R.B., Francois, M., Radford, K., & Meyer, K.C. (2007). Lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis: current concepts and one center's experience. J. Cyst. Fibros., 6(5), 334-50.

Meyer, K. (2007). Lung transplant and cystic fibrosis: Who and when? Harrison�s Online.

Meyer, K. (2007). Bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis and management of interstitial lung disease. Clin. Pulm. Med., 14, 148-156.

Meyer, K.C. (2006). The aging human lung: age-associated changes in structure and function. In P. Michael Conn (Ed.), Handbook of Models for Human Aging. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press.

Meyer, K.C. (2005). Aging. Proc. Am. Thoracic Soc., 2, 433-439.

Neralla, S., & Meyer, K.C. (2005). The keys to the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease: Part 1. J. Respir. Disease, 26, 372-378 (Part 1), 443-448 (Part 2), 466-478 (Part 3).

Neralla, S., & Meyer, K.C. (2004). Drug treatment of pneumococcal infections in the elderly. Drugs and Aging, 21, 851-864.

Meyer, K.C. (2004). Pneumonia: Predisposing factors, prevention, and treatment. Geriatr. Times, 5, 12-13.

Meyer, K.C. (2004). Lung infections and aging. Ageing Res. Rev., 3(1), 55-67.

Meyer, K.C. (2003). Interferon gamma-1b therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Is the cart before the horse? Mayo Clin. Proc., 78, 1073-1075.

Reichmuth, K.J., & Meyer, K.C. (2003). Management of respiratory infection in the elderly. Ann. Long-Term Care, 11, 27-31 (Part 1) & 19-22 (Part 2).

Meyer, K.C. (2002). Lung immunology and host defense. Pulmonary Biology. In E.E. Bittar (Ed.), Health and disease. New York: Springer.

Meyer, K.C., & Zimmerman, J.J. (2002). Inflammation and surfactant. J. Pediatr. Respir. Res., 3, 308-14.

Morrell, M.J., Arabi, Y., Zahn, B.R., Meyer, K.C., Skatrud, J.B., & Badr, M.S. (2002). Effects of surfactant on pharyngeal mechanics in sleeping humans: Implications for sleep apnea. Eur. Respir. J., 20, 451-457.

Meyer, K.C., Cornwell, R.D., & Love, R.B. (2001). Short and long term results after lung volume reduction surgery. Opinion in Pulm. Med., 6, 116-121.

Meyer, K. (2001). The role of immunity in susceptibility to respiratory infection in the aging lung. Respir. Physiol., 128, 23-31.

Meyer, K.C., Cardoni, A., & Xiang, Z. (2000). Vascular endothelial growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage from normal subjects and patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease. J. Lab. Clin. Med., 135, 332-338.

Meyer, K.C., & Soergel, P. (1999). Bronchoalveolar lymphocyte phenotypes change in the normal aging human lung. Thorax, 54, 697-700.

Meyer, K.C. (1999). Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of bronchiectasis. Pulm. Crit. Care. Update., 13, Lesson 21.

Meyer, K.C. (1998). Neutrophils and low-grade inflammation in the seemingly normal aging human lung. Mech. Aging Develop., 104, 169-81.

Meyer, K.C., Ershler, W., Rosenthal, N., Lu, X., & Peterson, K. (1996). Immune dysregulation in the aging human lung. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 153, 1072-1079.

Meyer, K.C. (1996). Therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Pulm. Crit. Care Update, 11, 1-8.

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