Respiratory Diseases Unit

The Respiratory Diseases Unit is involved in research related to the cellular and metabolic mechanisms of lung toxicity and with the respiratory systems response to environmental contaminants such as air pollutants and tobacco smoke.

Characteristics of the pulmonary airway tree have been defined for the adult rhesus monkey to establish its usefulness as a model of respiratory disease response in humans. A large variety of factors characteristic of the rhesus respiratory system document that these animals are likely to be one of the most appropriate models for studying cellular and metabolic as well as physiologic and molecular mechanisms of human lung injury and repair.

Current major areas of active research are:

• The process of postnatal airway growth and differentiation

• The development of the gas exchange area by alveolarization

• The establishment of neural networks within the respiratory system and their role in the regulation of overall pulmonary function and airways reactivity

• The impact of oxidant stress produced by cyclic exposure to air pollutants on the development of the respiratory system

• The impact of prenatal (via the mother) and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on respiratory development

• The role of allergen exposure in the development of mucosal immunity in the respiratory system

• The role of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in lung toxicity in the nonhuman primate, including the potential for the bioactivation of specific classes of compounds and the developmental expression of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases

• The impact of oxidant stress on reactive airways disease by inhaled allergens

• The cellular responses modulating the interaction of the respiratory system with Respiratory Syncytial Virus

• The definition of the respiratory system as a target for prenatal and postnatal genetic therapies

• The definition of the genetic makeup of the rhesus colony as it relates to genes involved in the production of allergic airways disease

The studies in the Respiratory Diseases Unit are directed towards:

• the effects of air pollutants including environmental tobacco smoke, ozone and house dust mite allergen on prenatal, neonatal and postnatal lung development

• the development of a model for human allergic asthma using the adult rhesus monkey and house dust mite allergen

• exploring the relationship between childhood asthma and exposure to house dust mite allergen

• the development of strategies for aerosol gene therapy for the treatment of chronic lung disease

The goal of the Respiratory Diseases Unit Resources program is to make non-human primate biological specimens and data collected through our NIH-funded research accessible to the scientific community. Since 1999, staff and affiliate scientists within the Respiratory Diseases Unit have used the non-human primate as an animal model to address questions related to the development of allergic airways disease and exacerbation by air pollutant exposures.

Archived specimens from completed studies include lung, lymph nodes, peripheral blood and lavage fluid. All specimens have been annotated in a database maintained by the Respiratory Diseases Unit. Histologic sections, cryopreserved cells, serum/plasma/lavage and RNA are available from most studies. Data collected via physiologic measurements and morphometric analysis may also be evaluated.

Access to more detailed study information may be obtained by completion and approval of the RDU Access Request Form. Resources may be subsequently obtained by completion and approval of the CNPRC RDU Resource Request Form. Priority for distribution of resources is given to federally-funded investigators.

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Staff Scientists

• Charles Plopper, Ph.D.
• Dallas M. Hyde, Ph.D.
• Leslie A. Lyons, Ph.D.
• Lisa A. Miller, Ph.D., Unit Leader
• Kent Pinkerton, Ph.D.