Joseph Brain is at the Harvard School of Public Health, where he is the Cecil K. and Philip Drinker Professor of Environmental Physiology, in the Department of Environmental Health. He was also educated at Harvard University, where he obtained the MS both in1962 and 1963, and the DS in 1966.
Prof. Brain's research emphasizes responses to inhaled gases, particulates, and microbes. His studies extend from the deposition of inhaled particles in the respiratory tract to their clearance by respiratory defense mechanisms. Of particular interest is the role of lung macrophages; this resident cell keeps lung surfaces clean and sterile. Moreover, the lung macrophage is also a critical regulator of inflammatory and immune responses. The context of these studies on macrophages is the prevention and pathogenesis of environmental lung disease as well as respiratory infection.
His research has utilized magnetic particles in macrophages throughout the body as a non-invasive tool for measuring cell motility and the response of macrophages to various mediators and toxins. This was stimulated by collaboration with David Cohen [1] of MIT in the area of Biomagnetism.
Other experiments deal with the use of lung lavage to obtain and characterize macrophages. A rodent bioassay utilizing lung lavage has been developed; the assay has been used to estimate the relative toxicity of new and complex mixtures such as molds, urban dusts, welding fume, new materials being used in the workplace, as well as drugs and excipients administered by inhalation, including nanomaterials.
Respiratory infection is emphasized and includes mechanistic studies of the lung's defenses against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important pulmonary pathogen for patients with cystic fibrosis. Related studies deal with opportunistic lung infections in AIDS such as Pneumocystis carinii.
Another area of study is drug delivery to and through the lungs. The amount and anatomic distribution of an inhaled radioactively-tagged asthma mediator antagonist and an elastase inhibitor have been measured. Other experiments focus on the fact of recombinant proteins such as macrophage colony stimulating factors, neutral endopeptidase, surfactant apoproteins, antibodies, interleukins, and hormones delivered to and through the lungs.
Notes
edit- Brain JD, Molina RM, DeCamp MM, and Warner AE. Pulmonary intravascular macrophages: their contribution to the mononuclear phagocyte system in 13 species. Am J Physiol (Lung Cell Mol Physiol), 1999, 20:L146-L154.
- Brain JD, Molina RM, DeCamp MM, Warner AE. Effects of a perfluorochemical emulsion on the fate of circulating Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Am J Physiol (Lung Cell Mol Physiol), 1999; 20:1037-1045.
- Brain JD, Kavet R, McCormick DL, Poole C, Silverman LB, Smith TJ, Valberg PA, Van Etten RA, Weaver JC. Childhood leukemia: electric and magnetic fields (EMF) as possible risk factors. Environ Health Perspec, 2003; 111:962-70.
- Brain JD. Unlocking the opportunity of tight glycaemic control. Diabetes Obes Metab. 7 Suppl 1: S14-8, 2005.
- Brain JD, Heilig E, Donaghey TC, Knutson MD, Wessling-Resnick M, Molina RM. Effects of iron status on transpulmonary transport and tissue distrubiton of Mn and Fe. Am J Respir Cell Mol Bio. 2006; 34: 330-7.
References
edit- ^ Cohen D, Arai SF, Brain JD. Smoking impairs long‑term dust clearance from the lung. Science 1979;24:514-17.