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LSU Health New Orleans
Derek Pociask, PhD
Assistant Professor of Genetics
Assistant Professor of Genetics
533 Bolivar Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 568-2130
Fax: (504) 568-8500
Degrees
B.S. 1991, Biology/Chemistry
Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL
Ph.D. 1999, Pathology
Louisiana State University Medical Center
New Orleans, LA
Bio
Dr. Pociask received his PhD from LSU Health Science Center in the department of Pathology. After graduating, he did a post-doc at Tulane University Health Science Center, where he studied interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and how cytokines, growth factors and reactive oxygen species perpetuate this disease. After Katrina, he moved to the University of Pittsburgh Childrens Hospital where he began to explore the role of innate immunity in interstitial lung disease.
His current research interests focus on a subset of T cells known as gamma delta T cells. These cells are found in close proximity to epithelial barriers and have been found to be important in repair of lung injury. Interestingly, we have determined that these cells are capable of decreasing pulmonary fibrosis and we are currently looking at the genes that are important in the signaling and amplification of these cells.
Research Interests
The role of gamma delta T cells in pulmonary injury, repair and fibrosis, as well as the genes important in their signaling and amplification.
How extracellular peptides such as lipocalin 2 (an extracellular siderophore) helps protect the lung in the initial stages of epithelial injury.
The role of IL-12 family members (IL-12 p40 homodimer, IL-23, IL-17) in pulmonary fibrosis
Selected Publications
Chan YR, Liu JS, Pociask DA, Zheng M, Mietzner TA, Berger T, Mak TW, Clifton MC, Strong RK, Ray P, Kolls JK. Lipocalin 2 is required for pulmonary host defense against Klebsiella infection. J Immunol. 2009 Apr 15;182(8):4947-56.
Tai-Cheng Lai, Derek A. Pociask, MaryBeth Ferris, Hong T. Nguyen, Charles A. Miller III, Arnold R. Brody, and Deborah E. Sullivan Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting TGF-β1 mRNA suppress asbestos-induced expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF in fibroblasts. Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology. In Press. Thomas DT, Espy MG, Pociask DA, Ridnour L, Donzelli S, Wink DA. Asbestosredirects nitric oxides ignaling through rapid catalytic conversion to nitrite. CancerResearch.2006, Dec 15;66(24):11600-4.Spees J, Pociask D, Sullivan D, Whitney M, Lasky J, Prockop D and Brody AREngraftment of bonemarrow progenitor cells in a rat model of asbestos-inducedpulmonary fibrosis. Am J Respir.Crit. CareMed. 2007 Aug 15;176(4):385-94.
Aujla SJ, Chan YR, Zheng M, Fei M, Askew DJ, Pociask DA, Reinhart TA, McAllister F, Edeal J, Gaus K, Husain S, Kreindler JL, Dubin PJ, Pilewski JM, Myerburg MM, Mason CA, Iwakura Y, Kolls JK. IL-22 mediates mucosal host defense against gram negative bacterial pneumonia. Nature Medicine. 2008 Mar;14(3):275-81.
Sullivan DE, Pociask D, Ferris MB and Brody AR. The Latent Form of TGF-beta1 is Induced by TNF-alpha Through an ERK Specific Pathway and is Activated by Asbestos-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species in vitro and in vivo. J Immunotoxicol. 2008 Apr;5(2):145-9.