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| Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Vincent Castranova Chief, Pathology and Physiology Research Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Adjunct Professor of Physiology Ph.D., West Virginia University, 1974, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Yale University Phone: 304-285-6056 Email: vic@niords1.em.cdc.gov Research Interests Pulmonary cell physiology, pulmonary inflammation, occupational lung diseases, inhalation toxicology. Description of Research My laboratory is involved in the isolation and characterization of lung cells. Efforts are directed toward determination of the functions of these cells, their interactions, their susceptibility to occupational or environmental pollutants, and the mechanisms by which this toxicity results in various pulmonary diseases. Thus far, research has centered on pulmonary phagocytes, i.e., alveolar macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and on alveolar type II epithelial cells. The role of oxidant damage and cytokine expression in disease development and progression is of interest. Studies employ whole animal, cellular, and molecular approaches. Pulmonary diseases under investigation include coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, silicosis, asbestosis, emphysema, and byssinosis. Recent Publications Ye J, X Shi, W Jones, Y Rojanasakul, N Cheng, D Schwegler-Berry, P Baron, G J Deye, C Li, and V Castranova. TNF-alpha production and transcription factor actuation in macrophages following exposure to glass fibers: Critical role of fiber length. Am J Physiol 276: L426-L434, 1999. Ye J, P Zeidler, S-H Young, J Martinez, V A Robinson, W Jones, P Baron, X Shi, and V Castranova. Activation of MAP kinase p38 and ERK is involved in glass fiber-induced TNF-alpha production in macrophages. J Biol Chem 276:5360-5367, 2001. |
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