Bruce Mazer, MD

Primary Axis: 
Infection and Immunity
Secondary Axis: 
Respiratory Health
Email: 
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Research Focus: 

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, and it is known that 70% of children with asthma also have allergies. It is still not clear how allergies, and in particular IgE antibodies made by allergic individuals, impact on asthma. My program is investigating B cells, the cells that make IgE, and their role in allergic tissues. My laboratory is studying the production of IL-13 by B cells, and how this cytokine sustains the growth and development of IgE secreting cells. We are also using novel human cell culture and tissue models to determine how antibodies are formed against common allergens such as dust mites, ragweed or peanuts, as well as the role of these antibodies in pulmonary inflammation.Allergy, asthma, IgE, B-lymphocytes, flow cytometry, cell culture

Keywords: 
B lymphocytes, IgE, cytokines, asthma, allergies, flow cytometry, cell homing and trafficking
Location: 
Montreal Children's Hospital
Publications:
Hajoui O, Zheng H, Guay J, Letuve S, Fawaz L, Mazer BD. Regulation of IL-13R*1 expression and signaling on human B-lymphocyte subsets. J Allergy Clin Immunol 120(6):1425-32, 2007 Dec.
Fawaz, L, Sharif-Askari E, Hajoui O, Soussi-Gounni A, Hamid, Q, Mazer BD. Expression of IL-9 receptor alpha chain on human germinal center B cells modulates IgE secretion. J Allergy Clin Immunol 120(5):1208-15, 2007 Nov.
Kramer MS, Matush L, Vanilovich N, Platt R, Bogdanovich N, Sevkovskaya Z, Dzikovich I, Shishko G, Mazer B. Effect of prolonged and exclusive breast feeding on risk of allergy and asthma: cluster randomised trial. BMJ 335(7624):815-821, 2007; Oct 20