Charles Dela Cruz, MD, PhD
Associate Professor Adjunct; Director, Center for Pulmonary Infection Research and Treatment (CPIRT)
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Locations
Research Summary
Our group is committed to innovative and cutting-edge basic, translational and clinical research that will further our understanding of pulmonary infections and lead to effective diagnosis and treatment. Current therapies for pulmonary infections have largely focused on the use of antibiotics and have led to the rapid emergence of drug resistance and hypervirulent strains. We will address current priorities in novel strategies in studying the host and the pathogen for both acute and chronic pulmonary infections. The research endeavors are aimed at delineating the basic mechanisms by which pulmonary pathogens cause disease as well as applying scientific advances to promote patient diagnosis and treatment
Our work is focused in both explorative and targeted research relevant to pulmonary infection and immunity in 3 specific areas:
(1) To explore the basic science of key host-microbe molecular and cellular interactions in the lung;
(2) To investigate and define the mechanisms of infections which either cause or exacerbate acute / chronic lung diseases using both basic and translational approaches;
(3) To utilize and develop novel technologies that will make it possible to better diagnose and treat pernicious lung infections.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Respiratory Tract Infections; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Selected Publications
- Pneumococcal Vaccination Strategies. An Update and PerspectiveBerical AC, Harris D, Dela Cruz CS, Possick JD. Pneumococcal Vaccination Strategies. An Update and Perspective. Annals Of The American Thoracic Society 2016, 13: 933-944. PMID: 27088424, PMCID: PMC5461988, DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201511-778fr.
- Regulation of Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta by Interleukin-15 in the Lung during Cigarette Smoking and Influenza Virus InfectionWang J, Liu W, Marion C, Singh R, Andrews N, Lee CG, Elias JA, Dela Cruz CS. Regulation of Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta by Interleukin-15 in the Lung during Cigarette Smoking and Influenza Virus Infection. American Journal Of Respiratory Cell And Molecular Biology 2015, 53: 822-833. PMID: 25923039, PMCID: PMC4742936, DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2014-0448oc.
- Mitochondrial Regulation of Inflammasome Activation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseYoon CM, Nam M, Oh YM, Dela Cruz CS, Kang MJ. Mitochondrial Regulation of Inflammasome Activation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Journal Of Innate Immunity 2015, 8: 121-128. PMID: 26536345, PMCID: PMC4801739, DOI: 10.1159/000441299.
- Chitinase 3-like-1 Promotes Streptococcus pneumoniae Killing and Augments Host Tolerance to Lung Antibacterial ResponsesDela Cruz CS, Liu W, He CH, Jacoby A, Gornitzky A, Ma B, Flavell R, Lee CG, Elias JA. Chitinase 3-like-1 Promotes Streptococcus pneumoniae Killing and Augments Host Tolerance to Lung Antibacterial Responses. Cell Host & Microbe 2012, 12: 34-46. PMID: 22817986, PMCID: PMC3613130, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2012.05.017.
- Role of Chitin and Chitinase/Chitinase-Like Proteins in Inflammation, Tissue Remodeling, and InjuryLee CG, Da Silva CA, Dela Cruz CS, Ahangari F, Ma B, Kang MJ, He CH, Takyar S, Elias JA. Role of Chitin and Chitinase/Chitinase-Like Proteins in Inflammation, Tissue Remodeling, and Injury. Annual Review Of Physiology 2011, 73: 479-501. PMID: 21054166, PMCID: PMC3864643, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-012110-142250.
- RIG-like Helicase Innate Immunity Inhibits Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Tissue Responses via a Type I IFN–dependent MechanismMa B, Dela Cruz CS, Hartl D, Kang MJ, Takyar S, Homer RJ, Lee CG, Elias JA. RIG-like Helicase Innate Immunity Inhibits Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Tissue Responses via a Type I IFN–dependent Mechanism. American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2011, 183: 1322-1335. PMID: 21278304, PMCID: PMC3114061, DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201008-1276oc.
- Transgenic modelling of cytokine polarization in the lungDela Cruz CS, Kang M, Cho W, Lee CG. Transgenic modelling of cytokine polarization in the lung. Immunology 2010, 132: 9-17. PMID: 21091906, PMCID: PMC3015070, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2010.03376.x.
- Role of Breast Regression Protein–39 in the Pathogenesis of Cigarette Smoke–Induced Inflammation and EmphysemaMatsuura H, Hartl D, Kang MJ, Dela Cruz CS, Koller B, Chupp GL, Homer RJ, Zhou Y, Cho WK, Elias JA, Lee CG. Role of Breast Regression Protein–39 in the Pathogenesis of Cigarette Smoke–Induced Inflammation and Emphysema. American Journal Of Respiratory Cell And Molecular Biology 2010, 44: 777-786. PMID: 20656949, PMCID: PMC3135840, DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2010-0081oc.
- Complex N-Linked Glycans on Asn-89 of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus-encoded Interleukin-6 Mediate Optimal Function by Affecting Cytokine Protein Conformation*Dela Cruz CS, Viswanathan SR, El-Guindy AS, Shedd D, Miller G. Complex N-Linked Glycans on Asn-89 of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus-encoded Interleukin-6 Mediate Optimal Function by Affecting Cytokine Protein Conformation*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2009, 284: 29269-29282. PMID: 19690161, PMCID: PMC2785557, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.039115.
- Cigarette smoke selectively enhances viral PAMP– and virus-induced pulmonary innate immune and remodeling responses in miceKang MJ, Lee CG, Lee JY, Dela Cruz CS, Chen ZJ, Enelow R, Elias JA. Cigarette smoke selectively enhances viral PAMP– and virus-induced pulmonary innate immune and remodeling responses in mice. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2008, 118: 2771-2784. PMID: 18654661, PMCID: PMC2483678, DOI: 10.1172/jci32709.
- N-linked Glycosylation Is Required for Optimal Function of Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus–encoded, but Not Cellular, Interleukin 6Dela Cruz CS, Lee Y, Viswanathan SR, El-Guindy AS, Gerlach J, Nikiforow S, Shedd D, Gradoville L, Miller G. N-linked Glycosylation Is Required for Optimal Function of Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus–encoded, but Not Cellular, Interleukin 6. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2004, 199: 503-514. PMID: 14970177, PMCID: PMC2211829, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20031205.
- Breakdown of CTL Tolerance to Self HLA-B*2705 Induced by Exposure to Chlamydia trachomatisPopov I, Dela Cruz CS, Barber BH, Chiu B, Inman RD. Breakdown of CTL Tolerance to Self HLA-B*2705 Induced by Exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis. The Journal Of Immunology 2002, 169: 4033-4038. PMID: 12244206, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.169.7.4033.
- Biochemical and biological characterization of a dodecameric CD4-Ig fusion protein: implications for therapeutic and vaccine strategies.Arthos J, Cicala C, Steenbeke TD, Chun TW, Dela Cruz C, Hanback DB, Khazanie P, Nam D, Schuck P, Selig SM, Van Ryk D, Chaikin MA, Fauci AS. Biochemical and biological characterization of a dodecameric CD4-Ig fusion protein: implications for therapeutic and vaccine strategies. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2002, 277: 11456-64. PMID: 11805109, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111191200.