Dr. Fariba Rezaee, MD (Case Western) presents “Airway Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction by Viruses and Nanoparticles”

Dr. Rezaee’s research lab studies the impact of viral infection and environmental factors on airway epithelial barrier and inflammation. The lab focuses on signaling pathways responsible for the change in the integrity of airway epithelial junctional complexes following RSV infection-an area with many ambiguities. Multiple epidemiologic studies report that exposure to environmental pollutants increases the risk of respiratory disease, however, the involved mechanisms remain unclear. Her research shows that disruption of the airway barrier by nanoparticles worsens RSV-induced airway injury and inflammation.

The goal of Dr. Rezaee’s research is to further identify the molecular mechanisms of respiratory RSV-induced disruption of the airway epithelial barrier and how environmental pollutants exacerbate RSV infection and augment RSV-induced airway barrier disruption. Combinations of studies using human airway epithelial cells as well as mouse models are used to approach these problems.