Karen Elizabeth Welty-Wolf

Karen Elizabeth Welty-Wolf
Professor of Medicine

Dr. Welty-Wolf studies (1) pathophysiology and treatment of acute lung injury and (2) multiple organ failure and disordered energy metabolism in sepsis. Injury models include hyperoxic lung injury and ARDS with multiple organ failure due to sepsis. In addition to evaluating mechanisms of lung injury in sepsis, current studies are being conducted to evaluate the potential role of monoclinal antibodies to neutrophil adhesion molecules in the prevention of this injury. Other sepsis work includes evaluating mechanisms of oxidative damage to mitochondria. Additional research efforts include evaluating the use of human recombinant manganese superoxide dismutase in preventing hyperoxic lung injury.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine 2017

Contact Information

0570 Clin Res II, Durham, NC 27710
Duke Box 3518, Durham, NC 27710
welty001@mc.duke.edu (919) 684-4938

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine, Duke University 1990 - 1993
- Fellow in Infectious Diseases, Medicine, Duke University 1989 - 1990
- Medical Resident, Medicine, Duke University 1986 - 1989
- M.D., Duke University 1986
Duke Appointment History
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine 2007 - 2017
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine 1997 - 2007
- Associate in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine 1993 - 1997
Research
Selected Grants
- Interdisciplinary Training Program in Lung Disease awarded by National Institutes of Health 2009 - 2020
- Novel Dialysis-Like Therapeutics in Sepsis-induced Shock and Organ Failure awarded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 2015 - 2018
- Project 2: Regulation of Mitochondrial Quality Control by Heme Oxygenase-1 System in Sepsis awarded by Brigham and Women's Hospital 2011 - 2017
- Telephone-based coping skills training for COPD awarded by National Institutes of Health 2000 - 2014
- Mitochondrial biogenesis in sepsis-induced organ dysfunction awarded by National Institutes of Health 2009 - 2013
- Lung Injury Protection by Coagulation Blockade awarded by National Institutes of Health 2005 - 2010
- Acute Lung Injury Mechanisms And Therapy awarded by National Institutes of Health 1984 - 1999
- Acute Lung Injury - Mechanisms And Therapy awarded by National Institutes of Health 1984 - 1997
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Journal Articles
  - Suliman, HB, Kraft, B, Bartz, R, Chen, L, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Piantadosi, CA. "Mitochondrial quality control in alveolar epithelial cells damaged by S. aureus pneumonia in mice." American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 313, no. 4 (October 2017): L699-L709. Full Text
  - Tsalik, EL, Li, Y, Hudson, LL, Chu, VH, Himmel, T, Limkakeng, AT, Katz, JN, Glickman, SW, McClain, MT, Welty-Wolf, KE, Fowler, VG, Ginsburg, GS, Woods, CW, and Reed, SD. "Potential Cost-effectiveness of Early Identification of Hospital-acquired Infection in Critically Ill Patients." Annals of the American Thoracic Society 13, no. 3 (March 2016): 401-413. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Blumenthal, JA, Smith, PJ, Durheim, M, Mabe, S, Emery, CF, Martinu, T, Diaz, PT, Babyak, M, Welty-Wolf, K, and Palmer, S. "Biobehavioral Prognostic Factors in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Results From the INSPIRE-II Trial." Psychosomatic medicine 78, no. 2 (February 2016): 153-162. Full Text
  - Fredenburgh, LE, Kraft, BD, Hess, DR, Harris, RS, Wolf, MA, Suliman, HB, Roggli, VL, Davies, JD, Winkler, T, Stenzler, A, Baron, RM, Thompson, BT, Choi, AM, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Piantadosi, CA. "Effects of inhaled CO administration on acute lung injury in baboons with pneumococcal pneumonia." American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 309, no. 8 (October 2015): L834-L846. Full Text
  - Pecorella, SRH, Potter, JVF, Cherry, AD, Peacher, DF, Welty-Wolf, KE, Moon, RE, Piantadosi, CA, and Suliman, HB. "The HO-1/CO system regulates mitochondrial-capillary density relationships in human skeletal muscle." American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 309, no. 8 (October 2015): L857-L871. Full Text
  - Dalli, J, Kraft, BD, Colas, RA, Shinohara, M, Fredenburgh, LE, Hess, DR, Chiang, N, Welty-Wolf, K, Choi, AM, Piantadosi, CA, and Serhan, CN. "The Regulation of Proresolving Lipid Mediator Profiles in Baboon Pneumonia by Inhaled Carbon Monoxide." American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 53, no. 3 (September 2015): 314-325. Full Text
  - Durheim, MT, Smith, PJ, Babyak, MA, Mabe, SK, Martinu, T, Welty-Wolf, KE, Emery, CF, Palmer, SM, and Blumenthal, JA. "Six-minute-walk distance and accelerometry predict outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease independent of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2011 Group." Annals of the American Thoracic Society 12, no. 3 (March 2015): 349-356. Full Text
  - Blumenthal, JA, Emery, CF, Smith, PJ, Keefe, FJ, Welty-Wolf, K, Mabe, S, Martinu, T, Johnson, JJ, Babyak, MA, O'Hayer, VF, Diaz, PT, Durheim, M, Baucom, D, and Palmer, SM. "The effects of a telehealth coping skills intervention on outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: primary results from the INSPIRE-II study." Psychosomatic Medicine 76, no. 8 (October 2014): 581-592. Full Text
  - Kraft, BD, Piantadosi, CA, Benjamin, AM, Lucas, JE, Zaas, AK, Betancourt-Quiroz, M, Woods, CW, Chang, AL, Roggli, VL, Marshall, CD, Ginsburg, GS, and Welty-Wolf, K. "Development of a novel preclinical model of pneumococcal pneumonia in nonhuman primates." American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology 50, no. 5 (May 2014): 995-1004. Full Text
  - Bartz, RR, Fu, P, Suliman, HB, Crowley, SD, MacGarvey, NC, Welty-Wolf, K, and Piantadosi, CA. "Staphylococcus aureus sepsis induces early renal mitochondrial DNA repair and mitochondrial biogenesis in mice." PloS one 9, no. 7 (January 2014): e100912-. Full Text
  - Doyle, T, Palmer, S, Johnson, J, Babyak, M, Smith, P, Mabe, S, Welty-Wolf, K, Martinu, T, and Blumenthal, J. "Association of anxiety and depression with pulmonary-specific symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 45, no. 2 (2013): 189-202. Full Text
  - Athale, J, Ulrich, A, MacGarvey, NC, Bartz, RR, Welty-Wolf, KE, Suliman, HB, and Piantadosi, CA. "Nrf2 promotes alveolar mitochondrial biogenesis and resolution of lung injury in Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in mice." Free Radical Biology & Medicine 53, no. 8 (October 2012): 1584-1594. Full Text
  - Piantadosi, CA, Bartz, RR, Carraway, MS, Ghio, AJ, McMahon, TJ, Murdoch, DM, Roggli, VL, Shofer, SL, Tighe, RM, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Young, SL. "The opprobrium of Big Tobacco." Am J Respir Crit Care Med 185, no. 9 (May 1, 2012): 1030-. (Letter) Full Text Link to Item
  - MacGarvey, NC, Suliman, HB, Bartz, RR, Fu, P, Withers, CM, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Piantadosi, CA. "Activation of mitochondrial biogenesis by heme oxygenase-1-mediated NF-E2-related factor-2 induction rescues mice from lethal Staphylococcus aureus sepsis." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 185, no. 8 (April 2012): 851-861. Full Text
  - Piantadosi, CA, Withers, CM, Bartz, RR, MacGarvey, NC, Fu, P, Sweeney, TE, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Suliman, HB. "Heme oxygenase-1 couples activation of mitochondrial biogenesis to anti-inflammatory cytokine expression." The Journal of Biological Chemistry 286, no. 18 (May 2011): 16374-16385. Full Text
  - Bartz, RR, Suliman, HB, Fu, P, Welty-Wolf, K, Carraway, MS, MacGarvey, NC, Withers, CM, Sweeney, TE, and Piantadosi, CA. "Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and mitochondrial accrual of the 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase DNA repair enzyme in mice." Am J Respir Crit Care Med 183, no. 2 (January 15, 2011): 226-233. Full Text Link to Item
  - Sweeney, TE, Suliman, HB, Hollingsworth, JW, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Piantadosi, CA. "A toll-like receptor 2 pathway regulates the Ppargc1a/b metabolic co-activators in mice with Staphylococcal aureus sepsis." Plos One 6, no. 9 (January 2011): e25249-null. Full Text
  - Suliman, HB, Babiker, A, Withers, CM, Sweeney, TE, Carraway, MS, Tatro, LG, Bartz, RR, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Piantadosi, CA. "Nitric oxide synthase-2 regulates mitochondrial Hsp60 chaperone function during bacterial peritonitis in mice." Free Radic Biol Med 48, no. 5 (March 1, 2010): 736-746. Full Text Link to Item
  - Reynolds, CM, Suliman, HB, Hollingsworth, JW, Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, and Piantadosi, CA. "Nitric oxide synthase-2 induction optimizes cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis after endotoxemia." Free Radic Biol Med 46, no. 5 (March 1, 2009): 564-572. Full Text Link to Item
  - Reddy, AJ, Woods, CW, and Welty-Wolf, KE. "Eastern equine encephalitis leading to multi-organ failure and sepsis." J Clin Virol 42, no. 4 (August 2008): 418-421. Full Text Link to Item
  - Carraway, MS, Suliman, HB, Kliment, C, Welty-Wolf, KE, Oury, TD, and Piantadosi, CA. "Mitochondrial biogenesis in the pulmonary vasculature during inhalational lung injury and fibrosis." Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 10, no. 2 (February 2008): 269-275. Full Text
  - Suliman, HB, Carraway, MS, Ali, AS, Reynolds, CM, Welty-Wolf, KE, and Piantadosi, CA. "The CO/HO system reverses inhibition of mitochondrial biogenesis and prevents murine doxorubicin cardiomyopathy." The Journal of Clinical Investigation 117, no. 12 (December 2007): 3730-3741. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Haden, DW, Suliman, HB, Carraway, MS, Welty-Wolf, KE, Ali, AS, Shitara, H, Yonekawa, H, and Piantadosi, CA. "Mitochondrial biogenesis restores oxidative metabolism during Staphylococcus aureus sepsis." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 176, no. 8 (October 2007): 768-777. Full Text
  - Demchenko, IT, Welty-Wolf, KE, Allen, BW, and Piantadosi, CA. "Similar but not the same: normobaric and hyperbaric pulmonary oxygen toxicity, the role of nitric oxide." Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 293, no. 1 (July 2007): L229-L238. Full Text Link to Item
  - Ware, LB, Camerer, E, Welty-Wolf, K, Schultz, MJ, and Matthay, MA. "Bench to bedside: targeting coagulation and fibrinolysis in acute lung injury." American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 291, no. 3 (September 2006): L307-L311. Full Text
  - Roggli, VL, Piantadosi, CA, MacIntyre, NR, Young, SL, Kussin, PS, Steele, MP, Carraway, MS, Welty-Wolf, KE, Govert, JA, McMahon, TJ, Palmer, SM, Sporn, TA, and Ghio, AJ. "Physician subsidies for tobacco advertising." Am J Respir Crit Care Med 173, no. 2 (January 15, 2006): 246-. (Letter) Full Text Link to Item
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Ortel, TL, Ghio, AJ, Idell, S, Egan, J, Zhu, X, Jiao, J-A, Wong, HC, and Piantadosi, CA. "Blockade of tissue factor-factor X binding attenuates sepsis-induced respiratory and renal failure." American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 290, no. 1 (January 2006): L21-L31. Full Text
  - Suliman, HB, Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Schwartz, DA, Hollingsworth, JW, and Piantadosi, CA. "Toll-like receptor 4 mediates mitochondrial DNA damage and biogenic responses after heat-inactivated E. coli." Faseb Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 19, no. 11 (September 2005): 1531-1533. Full Text
  - Suliman, HB, Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, M, Tatro, L, and Piantadosi, CA. "Lipopolysaccharide induces oxidative cardiac mitochondrial damage and biogenesis." Cardiovascular Research 64, no. 2 (November 2004): 279-288. Full Text
  - Suliman, HB, Carraway, MS, Welty-Wolf, KE, Whorton, AR, and Piantadosi, CA. "Lipopolysaccharide stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis via activation of nuclear respiratory factor-1." The Journal of Biological Chemistry 278, no. 42 (October 2003): 41510-41518. Full Text
  - Carraway, MS, Welty-Wolf, KE, Miller, DL, Ortel, TL, Idell, S, Ghio, AJ, Petersen, LC, and Piantadosi, CA. "Blockade of tissue factor: treatment for organ injury in established sepsis." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 167, no. 9 (May 2003): 1200-1209. Full Text
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Ortel, TL, and Piantadosi, CA. "Coagulation and inflammation in acute lung injury." Thromb Haemost 88, no. 1 (July 2002): 17-25. (Review) Link to Item
  - Miller, DL, Welty-Wolf, K, Carraway, MS, Ezban, M, Ghio, A, Suliman, H, and Piantadosi, CA. "Extrinsic coagulation blockade attenuates lung injury and proinflammatory cytokine release after intratracheal lipopolysaccharide." American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 26, no. 6 (June 2002): 650-658. Full Text
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Miller, DL, Ortel, TL, Ezban, M, Ghio, AJ, Idell, S, and Piantadosi, CA. "Coagulation blockade prevents sepsis-induced respiratory and renal failure in baboons." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 164, no. 10 Pt 1 (November 2001): 1988-1996. Full Text
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Idell, S, Ortel, TL, Ezban, M, and Piantadosi, CA. "Tissue factor in experimental acute lung injury." Seminars in Hematology 38 (October 2001): 35-38. Full Text
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Huang, YC, Simonson, SG, Kantrow, SP, Kishimoto, TK, and Piantadosi, CA. "Antibody to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54) decreases survival and not lung injury in baboons with sepsis." Am J Respir Crit Care Med 163, no. 3 Pt 1 (March 2001): 665-673. Full Text Link to Item
  - Jr, RLA, Mason, SN, Tanaka, DT, Welty-Wolf, K, and Whorton, MH. "Anti-neutrophil chemokine preserves alveolar development in hyperoxia-exposed newborn rats." American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 281, no. 2 25-2 (2001): L336-L344.
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Huang, Y-CT, Simonson, SG, Kantrow, SP, Kishimoto, TK, and Piantadosi, CA. "Antibody to intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54) decreases survival and not lung injury in baboons with sepsis." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 163, no. 3 I (2001): 665-673.
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Miller, DL, Ortel, TL, Ezban, M, Ghio, AJ, Idell, S, and Piantadosi, CA. "Coagulation blockade prevents sepsis-induced respiratory and renal failure in baboons." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 164, no. 10 I (2001): 1988-1996.
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Ghio, A, Kantrow, SP, Huang, YC, and Piantadosi, CA. "Proinflammatory cytokines increase in sepsis after anti-adhesion molecule therapy." Shock 13, no. 5 (May 2000): 404-409. Link to Item
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Carraway, MS, Huang, YC, Simonson, SG, Kantrow, SP, and Piantadosi, CA. "Bacterial priming increases lung injury in gram-negative sepsis." Am J Respir Crit Care Med 158, no. 2 (August 1998): 610-619. Full Text Link to Item
  - Carraway, MS, Welty-Wolf, KE, Kantrow, SP, Huang, Y-CT, Simonson, SG, Que, LG, Kishimoto, TK, and Piantadosi, CA. "Antibody to E- and L-selectin does not prevent lung injury or mortality in septic baboons." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 157, no. 3 I (1998): 938-949.
  - Simonson, SG, Welty-Wolf, KE, Huang, YC, Taylor, DE, Kantrow, SP, Carraway, MS, Crapo, JD, and Piantadosi, CA. "Aerosolized manganese SOD decreases hyperoxic pulmonary injury in primates. I. Physiology and biochemistry." Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 83, no. 2 (August 1997): 550-558. Full Text
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Simonson, SG, Huang, YC, Kantrow, SP, Carraway, MS, Chang, LY, Crapo, JD, and Piantadosi, CA. "Aerosolized manganese SOD decreases hyperoxic pulmonary injury in primates. II. Morphometric analysis." Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 83, no. 2 (August 1997): 559-568. Full Text
  - Simonson, SG, Huang, YC, Fracica, PJ, Welty-Wolf, KE, Moon, RE, Young, SL, and Piantadosi, CA. "Changes in the lung after prolonged positive pressure ventilation in normal baboons." J Crit Care 12, no. 2 (June 1997): 72-82. Link to Item
  - Huang, YC, Fracica, PJ, Simonson, SG, Crapo, JD, Young, SL, Welty-Wolf, KE, Moon, RE, and Piantadosi, CA. "VA/Q abnormalities during gram negative sepsis." Respir Physiol 105, no. 1-2 (August 1996): 109-121. Link to Item
  - Kanj, SS, Welty-Wolf, K, Madden, J, Tapson, V, Baz, MA, Davis, RD, and Perfect, JR. "Fungal infections in lung and heart-lung transplant recipients. Report of 9 cases and review of the literature." Medicine 75, no. 3 (May 1996): 142-156. (Review) Full Text
  - Welty-Wolf, KE, Simonson, SG, Huang, YC, Fracica, PJ, Patterson, JW, and Piantadosi, CA. "Ultrastructural changes in skeletal muscle mitochondria in gram-negative sepsis." Shock (Augusta, Ga.) 5, no. 5 (May 1996): 378-384.
  - Piantadosi, CA, Fracica, PJ, Duhaylongsod, FG, Huang, YC, Welty-Wolf, KE, Crapo, JD, and Young, SL. "Artificial surfactant attenuates hyperoxic lung injury in primates. II. Morphometric analysis." Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 78, no. 5 (May 1995): 1823-1831. Full Text
  - Welty-Wolf, K. "Pulmonary Function: A Guide for Clinicians." BMJ 309, no. 6967 (December 3, 1994): 1521-1521. Full Text
  - Simonson, SG, Welty-Wolf, K, Huang, YT, Griebel, JA, Caplan, MS, Fracica, PJ, and Piantadosi, CA. "Altered mitochondrial redox responses in gram negative septic shock in primates." Circ Shock 43, no. 1 (May 1994): 34-43. Link to Item
  - Kim, JH, Cooper, RA, Welty-Wolf, KE, Harrell, LJ, Zwadyk, P, and Klotman, ME. "Pseudomonas putrefaciens bacteremia." Reviews of Infectious Diseases 11, no. 1 (January 1989): 97-104.

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Journal Articles