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Session includes an in person invitee/speaker with CF
Session includes an in person invitee/speaker with CF

Nam Soo Joo, PhD

Stanford University

Ph.D. Nam Soo Joo, Senior Research Scientist, Pediatrics department-Pulmonary Pediatrics division/Stanford University.
I have been working in CF research field with a special emphasis on the potential role played by airway submucosal glands in the process of CF lung disease since I joined the cystic fibrosis research laboratory, directed by Dr. Jeffrey J. Wine, at Stanford in 1999. During the tenure of the lab (1999-2021), I have contributed to the development of important methods in collaboration with colleagues at Stanford: an in situ optical gland secretion assay for measuring fluid secretion rates and compositions from individual airway submucosal glands; a bioluminescence assay for bacterial killing with saliva samples; proteomic assay of gland mucus from CF and control human airways; airway smooth muscle contraction assay & and mucociliary clearance (MCC) assay for measuring a mucociliary clearance velocity using ex vivo WT & CF animal tracheae. With these methodologies, we discovered defects in submucosal gland secretory functions in CF airways from human and CF animal models. Recently, we discovered synergistic MCC in ex vivo animal tracheae by combining β adrenergic and low dose cholinergic agonists (synergy agonists, SA), including CF ferrets without inducing airway narrowing. SA produced synergistic MCC in in vivo sheep model of CF airway and in vivo CF rats. We have shown that SA stimulates glandular fluid secretion, stimulates net base secretion, inhibits surface epithelial fluid absorption, and increases ASL depth and ciliary beat frequency. Outcome of preclinical clinical safety and tolerability trials in healthy and CF subjects indicated that SA is safe to use in humans and also indicated SA provided additional benefits to CF airways being treated with HEMT (highly effective modulator therapy). The key findings point out that while SA provides agonistic effects of on epithelial cells, it antagonizes smooth muscle contraction. To better understand the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms of synergistic enhancement of MCC, and to evaluate the effects of repeated SA treatments on lung physiology, experiments are underway. The outcome of these studies will provide essential information necessary to develop SA as a potential therapeutic for patients with airway muco-obstructive disorders including CF. Since then, I have joined department of Pediatrics/Stanford-pediatric pulmonology division and continue CF translational research.

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