David E. Cochrane
Professor
Neural/endocrine signals on immune and inflammatory cell function

Education

B.S., Cornell University - 1966
M.S., Reproductive Physiology, University of Vermont - 1968
Ph.D., Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont - 1971

Graduate Research Area: Cell Physiology

Research Interests

The general area of interest of my laboratory is the regulation of immune system cells by signals (e.g. peptides) released from neural, endocrine and other tissues. This regulatory effect is an important homeostatic mechanism whose proper balance is essential for the maintenance of health and well being. Most of our work focuses on the mast cell, a tissue cell well known for its roles in allergy and inflammation and therefore in disorders that involve inflammation. In addition, we study the lung fibroblast, a cell important to lung structure and function and a cell that can contribute to lung pathology.

The majority of our work involves studying the mechanisms of action of the neuroendocrine peptide, neurotensin (NT) on these cells. NT is involved in the regulation of a variety of physiologic processes as well as in a number of diseases including cancer. Our current work involves studying the signal transduction pathways initiated by NT in these mast cells and fibroblasts and the cellular, physiologic and patho-physiologic consequences of NT's action. For example, an on-going project is aimed at understanding the mechanism(s) by which mast cells accumulate around human tumors and significantly contribute to tumor growth and patient mortality. Our working hypothesis is that NT plays a significant role in these processes. A second project involves experiments aimed at understanding the role of mast cells and NT in the exacerbating effects of stress on chronic inflammatory diseases. A third project involves a study of the mast cell as a source of various signaling peptides.

My laboratory has long-standing collaborations with investigators in the Department of Pharmacology at Tufts Medical School and in the Department of Physiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In addition, we collaborate with Professor Jan Pechenik in the Department of Biology at Tufts on identifying the signaling mechanism(s) involved in the metamorphosis of marine snails.

Courses

Biology 115 and 116: General Physiology I and II
Biology 177: Seminar in Inflammation
Biology 49: Experiments in Physiology
Biology 134A: Neurobiology (summer only)

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