Fariba Rezaee, MD, FAAP
Staff
Center for Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine
Location: Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Research
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in young children worldwide. More than 33 million occurrences of RSV-related bronchiolitis have been estimated globally, with 3 million children requiring hospitalization. RSV is also a significant source of morbidity and mortality in elderly and high-risk adults. There are strong associations between RSV, persistent wheezing, and childhood asthma. Despite extensive research, no effective treatment is available for RSV infection, aside from supportive care. Nearly all children become infected with RSV by age 2, and while most experience a mild, self-limiting illness, some develop severe infection and persistent airway disease. While many host factors associated with disease severity such as prematurity, age, or underlying chronic lung diseases are well-described, the associations of RSV infection with many environmental exposures are not yet fully understood. For example, exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) has been linked to pulmonary diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, otitis media, and severe viral infection in multiple epidemiologic studies. My laboratory investigates the mechanisms by which RSV infection injures the epithelial cell lining of human airways, and how exposure to environmental pollution enhances the severity of that injury. Identifying the mechanisms by which RSV and air pollution affect the lungs will aid the design of agents that specifically target virus-mediated pathology, and will have a significant impact on the well-being of both children and adults suffering from RSV.
Biography
Dr. Fariba Rezaee is an associate professor of Pediatrics and staff physician in the Center for Pulmonary Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Children's. Dr. Rezaee is a physician scientist whose research primarily focuses on the impact of viral infections and environmental factors on the airway epithelial barriers.
Education & Professional Highlights
Education & Fellowships
Fellowship - University of Rochester Medical Center
Pediatric Pulmonology
Rochester, NY USA
2008-2011
Fellowship - West Virginia University
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Pediatrics
Morgantown, WV USA
2006-2008
Residency - Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Pediatrics
Newark, NJ USA
2003-2006
Residency- Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Pediatrics
Isfahan, Iran
1994-1997
Medical school- Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Isfahan, Iran
1987 – 1994 (7-year program)
Certifications
- Pediatrics - Pediatric Pulmonology
"CIMER Trained Mentor" indicates the principal investigator has completed mentorship training based on curriculum from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research, aimed at advancing mentoring relationships and promoting cultural change in research.
Research
My lab is interested in investigating the impact of viral infection and environmental factors on airway epithelial barrier and inflammation. Regulation of airway epithelial barrier is one of the new frontiers in mucosal biology with relevance to respiratory viral infections and asthma.
My laboratory research primarily focuses on the 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. Our study shows that disruption of the airway barrier by nanoparticles worsens RSV-induced airway injury and inflammation.
The goal of my research is to further identify further 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. We use combinations of studies using human airway epithelial cells as well as mouse models and to approach these problems.
Media Links
- E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury in Adolescents
Read Story on Cleveland Clinic Consult QD - Study Finds Teen Vaping Use Can Lead to Acute Lung Injury
Read Story on Cleveland Clinic Newsroom and WKSU
Team News
- Dr. Nannan Gao received an Abstract Scholarship from ATS 2022 International Conference. The scholarship includes a full In-Training Registration for the 2022 ATS International Conference.
- Dr. Nannan Gao was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Mark Lauer Pediatric Young Investigator Research Grant awarded by the Pediatric Institute, Cleveland Clinic Children's. The $50,000 grant is titled “Investigating the Role of Actin Network and Cortactin in Airway Epithelial Barrier Disruption by RSV Infection."
- Dr. Gao was also selected as a recipient of the 2021 LRI Trainee Alumni Association Postdoc Training Award.
Our Team
Selected Publications
View publications for Fariba Rezaee, MD, FAAP
(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)
- Gao N, Rezaee F. (2023) Airway Epithelial Cell Junctions as Targets for Pathogens and Antimicrobial Therapy. Pharmaceutics. 2022 Nov 27;14(12) PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9786141.
- Gao N, Raduka A, Rezaee F. (2022) RSV disrupts airway epithelial barrier by decreasing cortactin and destabilizing F-actin. Journal of Cell Science. PMID: 35848790
- Manti S, Leonardi S, Rezaee F. Harford TJ, Perez MK, Piedimonte G. (2022) Effects of Vertical Transmission of Respiratory Viruses to the Offspring. Front Immunol. 2022;13:853009. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8963917.
- Harford TJ#, Rezaee F. #*, Dye BR, Fan J, Spence JR, Piedimonte G. (2022) RSV-Induced Changes In A 3-Dimentional Organoid Model Of Human Fetal Lungs. PLoS One . 2021 Jun 1;320(6):L1074-L1084. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00531.2020. Epub 2021 Mar 31. PubMed PMID: 33787326; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8285623. #equal contributions. *Corresponding author.
- Aghapour M, Ubags N, Bruder D, Hiemstra P, Sidhaye V, Rezaee F, Heijink IH. (2022) Role of air pollutants in airway epithelial barrier dysfunction in asthma and COPD. European Respiratory Review 2022 Mar 31;31(163). doi: 10.1183/16000617.0112-2021. Print 2022 Mar 31. Review. PubMed PMID: 35321933; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9128841.
- Yousuf S, Cardenas S, Rezaee F, (2021) Pediatric Pneumothorax: Case Studies and Review of Current Literature. Respiratory Medicine Case Reports . 2021;34:101548. doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2021.101548. eCollection 2021. PubMed PMID: 34820257; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8602041.
- Linfield DT, Aghapour M, Raduka A, Rezaee F, (2021) Airway tight junction as Targets of viral infections. Tissue Barriers. Feb 26:1883965. doi: 10.1080/21688370.2021.1883965. Epub ahead of print. PubMed PMID: 33632074; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8078511. The figure was selected for the journal cover.
- Linfield DT, Gao N, Raduka A, Harford T. J, Piedimonte G, Rezaee F, (2021) Respiratory syncytial virus infection attenuates epithelial cell restitution by inhibiting actin cytoskeleton-dependent cell migration. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2021 May 19;. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00118.2021. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34010080; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8321853.
- Harford TJ, Rezaee F, Gupta MK, Bokun V, Nega Prasad SV, Piedimonte G. (2021). Respiratory syncytial virus induces β2-adrenergic receptor dysfunction in airway smooth muscle cells. Science Signaling. 2021 Jun 1;14(685). doi: 10.1126/scisignal.abc1983. PubMed PMID: 34074703; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8486349.
- Corcoran A, Carl JC, Rezaee F, (2020) The Importance of Anti-Vaping vigilance-EVALI in Seven Adolescent Pediatric Patients in Northeast Ohio. Pediatric Pulmonology, 55(7):1719-1724. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24872. Epub 2020 Jun 3. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7384027.
- Rezaee F,(2020) E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury in Adolescents, The importance of anti-vaping awareness. Perspectives in Pediatric Research & Innovations.
- Smallcombe CC, Harford T. J, Piedimonte G, Rezaee F, (2020) Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Exaggerate Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Induced Airway Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. PMID: 32640839, doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00104.2020. PubMed PMID: 32640839; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7518063.
- Manti S, Esper F, Alejandro-Rodriguez M, Leonardi S, Betta P, Cuppari C, Lanzafame A, Worley S, Salpietro C, Perez MK, Rezaee F, Piedimonte G. (2020) Respiratory Syncytial Virus Seropositivity at Birth is Associated with Adverse Neonatal Respiratory Outcomes. Pediatric Pulmonology, doi.org/10.1002/ppul.25001. PubMed PMID: 32741145; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7808412.
- Smallcombe CC. Linfield DT, Harford TJ, Bokun V, Piedimonte G, Ivanov AI, Rezaee F, (2019) Disruption of the Airway Epithelial Barrier in a Murine Model of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 316(2):L358-L368. PubMed PMID: 30489157; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6397347.
- Manti S, Harford TJ, Rezaee F, Piedimonte G. (2018) High Mobility Group Box-1 Inhibition Protects Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. Pediatric Research. 83(5):1049-1056. PubMed PMID: 29329282; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5959750.
- Marquardsen FA, Baldin F, Wunderer F, Al-Herz W, Mikhael R, Lefranc G, Baz Z, Rezaee F, Hanna R, Kfir-Erenfeld S, Stepensky P, Meyer B, Jauch A, Bigler MB, Burgener AV, Higgins R, Navarini AA, Church JA, Chou J, Geha R, Notarangelo LD, Hess C, Berger CT, Bloch DB, Recher M. (2017) Detection of Sp110 by flow-cytometry and application to screening patients for veno-occlusive disease with immunodeficiency. J Clin Immunol. 37(7):707-714. PubMed PMID: 28825155; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6069968.
- Rezaee F, Harford TJ, Linfield LT, Midura RJ, Ivanov AI, Piedimonte G. (2017) cAMP-Dependent Activation of Protein Kinase A Attenuates Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Induced Human Airway Epithelial Barrier Disruption. PLoS One. 12(7):e0181876. PubMed PMID: 28759570; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5536269.
- Rezaee F, Linfield LT, Harford TJ, Piedimonte G. (2017) Ongoing Developments in RSV Prophylaxis: A Clinician’s Analysis. Current opinion in virology. 24:70-78. Review. PubMed PMID: 28500974; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5541395. The figure was selected for the journal cover.
- Rezaee, F. (2016) Airway Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Response to Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Readying the Research for Animal Model Replication. Pediatric Perspectives, 38-39.
Careers
Our collaborative and friendly lab at the Center for Pediatric Research in the Department of Inflammation & Immunity at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute has an immediate position available for a motivated and qualified postdoctoral fellowship in the development and understanding of the role of viral infection and pollution on airway epithelial barriers. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a PhD or MD/PhD to work in a training position. The ideal candidate will have relevant laboratory experience in the areas below. · Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ·
- Environmental exposures
- Electronic cigarettes and vaping
- Airway barrier
- Airway tight junction
This position will provide practical training and experience in a research setting, with an appointment through the Lerner Research Institute. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate a commitment to research, a collaborative work ethic and strong communication skills, both written and verbal. This program is expected to be completed within 5 years.
For more information about the lab’s research, please visit: https://www.lerner.ccf.org/inflammation-immunity/rezaee/
Research News
Dr. Rezaee showed that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, a pollutant found in many household and personal care products, exacerbates RSV-associated airway inflammation and other disease-related changes.
New research led by Dr. Rezaee builds upon a growing body of evidence that points to vaping products containing THC as most harmful for teens and adolescents.