Sidandar L. Katyal , Professor
PhD, Delhi University
Email: sikkat@pitt.edu
Dr. Katyal's research is in the area of pulmonary biology, with emphasis on lung development in utero and regeneration after injury. Newborn deficiency in pulmonary surfactant, which maintains alveolar stability and normal lung function, often leads to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which is a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity. Katyal is currently identifying regulatory substances (hormones, growth factors, dietary con-stituents) that enhance or inhibit various stages of lung development, both in utero and postnatally. These molecules have the potential of accelerating fetal lung maturity, increasing surfactant production, and reducing the risk of RDS. Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) continues to be a major cause of lung injury and clinical morbidity. The most common cause of ARDS is sepsis from gram-negative bacteria that disrupt normal lung surfactant function. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) components of gram-negative bacteria are biologically active substances, which when administered to experimental animals induce septic lung injury associated with the release of various inflammatory cytokines. Katyal uses LPS-induced lung injury as a model of ARDS to delineate potential roles of growth factors in lung regen-eration and restoration of surfactant function after injury. Katyal is also investigating the roles of growth factors in lung repair processes via the use of transgenic animals.
Recent Publication
Shiratori M., Oshika E., Ung L.P., Singh G., Shinozuka H., Warburton D., Michalopoulos G.K., and Katyal S.L. Effects of keratinocyte growth factor and embryonic rat lung morphogenesis. American Journal of Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology 15:328-338 1996.
Oshika E., Liu S., Ung L.R, Singh G., Shinozuka H., Michalopoulos G.K., Katyal S.L. Glucocorticoid-induced effects on pattern formation and epithelial cell differentiation in early embryonic rat lungE. Pediatric Research 43:305-314, 1998.
Oshika E., Liu S., Singh G., Michalopoulos G.K., Shinozuka H., Katyal S.L. Antagonistic effects of dexamethasone and retinoic acid on rat lung morphogenesis. Pediatric Research 43:315-324, 1998.
