Hume Research Laboratory

Patrick S. Hume, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Department of Medicine

National Jewish Health

Denver, Colorado, USA


Macrophage Biology

Numerous leukocyte populations in the human lung work together to defend the body from diseases and repair the lung after injuries caused from environmental exposures like smoke inhalation. Billions of lung macrophages are distributed throughout healthy lung tissue - standing ready to initiate the immune response

Defining the location of macrophages in the human lung

Where do macrophages actually reside in the lungs? See our publication in the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine which identified the location of billions of macrophages in human lungs using advanced microscopy

How does the local tissue environment influence macrophage function?

The Hume Lab utilizes advanced microscopy to visualize macrophages in the human lung. Our focus is to unravel roles of myeloid cells in the development of chronic diseases including COPD


Spatial Heterogeneity

The location of lung leukocyte subtypes varies based on specific tissue layer. Does their function vary as well? Stay tuned!

Macrophages in Smokers

Cigarette smoking alters and reduced macrophage function. See our recent publication in the American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology investigating the role of hypoxia signaling in macrophages during smoke exposure.

Recent Lab News:

  • Summer 2022:

    • We're please to announce our recent publication in the American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology investigating the role of (or lack there of) of leukocyte HIF-1a signaling in the development of murine emphysema

    • Congratulations to undergraduate researcher extraordinaire Katelyn Lyn-Kew on her successful summer research project in the lab. Good luck finishing your final year at the University of Washington and next stop, Med school!

    • We are grateful to have had the opportunity to present our work in progress at the 2022 Thomas L. Petty Aspen Lung Conference

  • Spring 2022:

    • We're thrilled to welcome Jennifer Driscoll to the lab as our new full time technician. Let the tissue staining begin!

    • We presented our recent work at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society in San Francisco