Richard Dey, Ph.D.
	Professor & Chair, Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy Graduate Training: Michigan State University Fellowship: University of Texas Health Science Center of Dallas
	Office:4054 -HSN Lab:4011/4019 -HSN P.O. Box 9128 Health Sciences Center Morgantown, WV 26505	Email: rdey@hsc.wvu.edu Phone: 304-293-5979 Fax: 304-293-8159

Research Interests:
The research in my lab focuses on neuroanatomical organization and embryological development of airway innervation, examining interconnections between airway neurons and airway structures (smooth muscle, blood vessels, glands, epithelium), and on determining neuronal responses to inhaled irritants. Different types of nerves including sensory, sympathetic, parasympathetic, and nonadrenergic/noncholinergic supply the trachea and bronchi. Released neurotransmitters mediate bronchial and vascular smooth muscle tone, mucous secretion, coughing, and breathing patterns in normal conditions and produce defensive responses after inhalation of irritant substances. Airway nerves may also contribute to lung diseases like asthma, chronic cough, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although there is considerable information regarding the actions of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, norepinephrine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P and nitric oxide, the mechanisms through which airway nerves contribute to asthma and other airway diseases is not clear.  Regulatory molecules like neurotrophins may be critical in altering neurotransmitter expression and airway innervation leading to asthma and airway inflammation.  Combinations of immunocytochemical, molecular biological, neurophysiological and pharmacological approaches are used to investigate pulmonary neural responses to inhaled irritants such as ozone, a photochemical environmental pollutant, and toluene diisocyanate, a catalyst associated with occupational asthma used in manufacturing polymers. 

Selected Publications:
Wu, Z.-X., D.F. Maize, B. E. Satterfield, R.G. Frazer, J.S. Fedan, and R.D. Dey.  Role of intrinsic airway neurons in ozone-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. J. Appl. Physiol., 91:371-378, 2001.

Wu, Z.X., B.E. Satterfield, J.S. Fedan and R.D. Dey.  Interleukin-1-induced airway hyperresponsiveness enhances substance P in intrinsic neurons of ferret airway.  Am. J. Physiol: Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol., L909-917, 2002.

Sikora, E.R., S. Stone, S. Tomblyn, D.G. Frazer, V. Castranova, and R.D. Dey.  Asphalt exposure enhances neuropeptides levels in sensory neurons projecting to the nasal epithelium. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health., 66:1015-27, 2003.

Wu Z-X, B.E. Satterfield and R.D. Dey. SP released from intrinsic airway neurons contributes to ozone-enhanced airway hyperresponsiveness in ferret trachea.  J. Appl. Physiol., 95(2):742-50, 2003.

Wilfong, E.R. and R.D. Dey  Nerve growth factor and substance P regulation in nasal sensory neurons after TDI exposure.  Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., 30: 793-800, 2004.

Wilfong, E.R. and R.D. Dey.  The release of nerve growth factor from the nasal mucosa following toluene diisocyanate. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health., 68(15):1337-48, 2005.

Wu ZX, Barker JS, Batchelor TP, Dey RD.  Interleukin (IL)-1 regulates ozone-enhanced tracheal smooth muscle responsiveness by increasing substance P (SP) production in intrinsic airway neurons of ferret. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2008 Dec 31;164(3):300-11. Epub 2008 Jul 31.
PMID: 18718561

Wu ZX, Dey RD.  Nerve growth factor-enhanced airway responsiveness involves substance P in ferret intrinsic airway neurons.  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Jul;291(1):L111-8. Epub 2006 Feb 3.
PMID: 16461428

Dong CC, Yin XJ, Ma JY, Millecchia L, Wu ZX, Barger MW, Roberts JR, Antonini JM, Dey RD, Ma JK.  Effect of diesel exhaust particles on allergic reactions and airway responsiveness in ovalbumin-sensitized brown Norway rats.  Toxicol Sci. 2005 Nov;88(1):202-12. Epub 2005 Aug 17.
PMID: 16107553

Collaborators: 
Zhong Xin wu, M.D.
Dawn D. Hunter, Ph.D. 

Lab Personnel:
Batchelor, Thomas P
Zellner, Leor
Carrell-Jacks, Lynnsey
Barker, Joshua
Rogers-Nieman, Gabrielle
Katie Benders

Funding
NIH RO1 HL35812-14, 2007-2012.  Neuroanatomy and molecular biology of airway neurons.  PI: Richard Dey.  Project evaluates effects of neurotrophins on phenotypic expression in airway neurons after ozone exposure.