Lee A. Denson, MD
- Director, Schubert-Martin Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
- Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
- lee.denson@cchmc.org
- Board Certified
About
Biography
I am a gastroenterologist who specializes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinical care and research. In addition to serving as director of the Schubert-Martin Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Cincinnati Children’s, I hold the M. Susan Moyer Chair in pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases.
My research interests include the pathogenesis and treatment of IBD, with a focus on microbial targeted therapies. Our lab aims to improve healing and length of remission for patients with IBD — and ultimately provide a cure.
For example, using both murine and patient-based approaches, we’re working to define mechanisms that link neutralizing GM-CSF autoantibodies to neutrophil dysfunction and more severe small bowel Crohn’s disease. Our goal is to develop diagnostic biomarkers that may lead to novel targeted treatments.
We’ve also sought to determine the molecular basis for alterations in growth hormone signaling in IBD. Normal growth and development are dependent upon the ability of growth hormone to regulate IGF-1 expression. Evidence from studies in children with IBD, and mouse models of colitis, indicates that inflammatory cytokines, which are up regulated in this setting, may cause an acquired resistance to growth hormone. Consequences may include growth failure, altered body composition and impaired mucosal healing.
We’ve used complementary experimental and patient-based approaches to investigate regulation of growth hormone signaling in mouse models of colitis and in children with Crohn's disease. This includes down-regulation of the growth hormone receptor and up-regulation of a family of post-receptor inhibitory proteins, the Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS). These studies should lead to the development of more effective therapies for children with IBD and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
I’ve received numerous awards and appointments throughout my career. These include the Sherman Prize and a Cincinnati Children’s Faculty Mentor Award.
MD: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA, 1993.
Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, 1993-96.
Certification: Pediatrics, 1996 and 2002.
Fellowship: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 1996-99.
Interests
Inflammatory bowel disease; growth failure; celiac disease
Services and Specialties
Gastroenterology GI, Colorectal Disorders, Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD, Autoimmune Liver Disease
Research Areas
Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition
Insurance Information
Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.
Publications
Machine-learning-based integrative –‘omics analyses reveal immunologic and metabolic dysregulation in environmental enteric dysfunction. iScience. 2024; 27:110013.
958 ATTAINING EARLY ANTI-TNF EXPOSURE TARGETS IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED RATES OF ENDOSCOPIC HEALING AND TRANSMURAL HEALING IN CHILDREN WITH CROHN'S DISEASE. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-226-s-227.
748 EXTENSIVE PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS IDENTIFIES A CROHN'S DISEASE CORE PROTEOME AND ANTI-TNF TREATMENT RESPONSE PROFILE FOR CHILDREN WITH CROHN'S DISEASE. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-177-s-178.
Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Response Using Diagnostic Histopathology. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:921-924.e4.
Fitness-for-use of Retrospective Multicenter Electronic Health Records to Conduct Outcome Analysis for Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis. Medicine; analytical reviews of general medicine, neurology, psychiatry, dermatology, and pediatries. 2024; 103:e37395.
A comparison of Bayesian and frequentist approaches to incorporating clinical and biological information for the prediction of response to standardized pediatric colitis therapy. PloS one. 2024; 19:e0295814.
Acute pancreatitis is associated with gut dysbiosis in children. Digestive and Liver Disease. 2024; 56:444-450.
Linking microbial genes to plasma and stool metabolites uncovers host-microbial interactions underlying ulcerative colitis disease course. Cell Host and Microbe. 2024; 32:209-226.e7.
Microbiota-derived butyrate restricts tuft cell differentiation via histone deacetylase 3 to modulate intestinal type 2 immunity. Immunity. 2024; 57:319-332.e6.
Progression of Pediatric Crohn's Disease Is Associated With Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Timing and Body Mass Index Z-Score Normalization. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2024; 22:368-376.e4.
From the Blog
Our 2019 Research Annual Report
Lee A. Denson, MD, John Hogenesch, PhD ...2/4/2020
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