The Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell leads a dynamic and innovative translational research program, advancing diverse fields such as Genetic Therapy and Personalized Medicine.
Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine advances treatments and diagnostics through diverse clinical trials, including drug testing and research to better understand diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell leads a dynamic and innovative translational research program, advancing diverse fields such as Genetic Therapy and Personalized Medicine.
Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
The Department of Genetic Medicine advances treatments and diagnostics through diverse clinical trials, including drug testing and research to better understand diseases.
To study the early changes in the lower respiratory tract in persons exposed to periods of hyperoxia usually considered safe, we evaluated 14 normal subjects by bronchoalveolar lavage before and immediately after 16.7 +/- 1.1 hours of breathing more than 95 per cent oxygen. Hyperoxia caused a significant alveolar-capillary "leak" as detected by the presence of increased plasma albumin and transferrin in lavage fluid. These changes were reversible, as shown at repeat lavage in four subjects two weeks after oxygen administration. Hyperoxia for an average of 17 hours did not change the total number or type of lung inflammatory and immune effector cells recovered by lavage (P greater than 0.05, all comparisons). However, alveolar macrophages from subjects exposed to oxygen released increased amounts of fibronectin (P less than 0.05) and alveolar-macrophage--derived growth factor for fibroblasts (P less than 0.01)--mediators thought to modulate fibroblast recruitment and proliferation in the alveolar wall. Thus, although some of the effects of exposure to 17 hours of more than 95 per cent oxygen are reversible, hyperoxia for even this short period lowers the structural or functional barriers that normally prevent alveolar-capillary "leak" and induces processes that can culminate in fibrosis of the alveolar wall.