Department of Medicine
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Department of Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Daniel J. Kass, MD

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Associate Professor of Medicine

Director, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)

Email: kassd2@upmc.edu

Phone: 412-624-7225
Contact
Office: Starzl Biomedical Science Tower, W1240
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
 
Phone: 412-624-7225
Fax: 412-624-1670
E-mail: kassd2@upmc.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Stacie Truszkowski
Email: truszkowskisl@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-624-7225
Fax: 412-624-1670
Education and Training
Education
BA, magna cum laude, Chemistry and Latin, Columbia College, New York, 1995
MD, New York University School of Medicine, 1999
Training
Residency, Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, 2002
Fellowship, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, 2005
Research Interest
I have a broad and collaborative research portfolio focusing on both translational and clinical studies in ILD. I have been funded by the NIH to study basic fibroblast biology in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Our laboratory focuses on understanding basic mechanisms of the differentiation of myofibroblasts in pulmonary fibrosis. This process involves increased expression of the transcription factor TWIST1. Dysregulation of TWIST1 expression is also associated with increased accessibility of the E-Box DNA-binding motif in lung myofibroblasts1. This perfect storm of events, we suggest, is a critical part of the myofibroblast transcriptional program.

Our laboratory has also studied the shift in G protein signaling in fibroblasts associated with the differentiation of myofibroblasts. This includes the loss of “anti-fibrotic” relaxin signaling through G?s to the gain of pro-fibrotic signaling through G?i.

We have also identified multiple biomarkers of ILD including the C-X-C chemokine CXCL6.
Clinical Interest
I am a pulmonologist with a special interest in the care of patients with interstitial lung disease. I am the Director of the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) at the University of Pittsburgh. The Center has a premier international reputation for the care of patients with ILD and for groundbreaking research in all forms of pulmonary fibrosis.
Educational Interest
I have been privileged to teach pulmonary medicine (and interstitial lung disease, in particular) to fellows, residents, and medical students.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Bahudhanapati H, Tan J, Apel RM, Seeliger B, Schupp J, Li X, Sullivan DI, Sembrat J, Rojas M, Tabib T, Valenzi E, Lafyatis R, Mitash N, Pineda RH, Jawale C, Peroumal D Biswas P, Tedrow J, Adams T, Kaminski N, Wuyts WA, McDyer JF, Gibson KF, Alder JK, Königshoff M, Zhang Y, Nouraie M, Prasse A, Kass DJ. Increased expression of CXCL6 in secretory cells drives fibroblast collagen synthesis and is associated with increased mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Eur Respir J. 2024; 63(1): 2300088.
Clark KP, Degenholtz HB, Lindell KO, Kass DJ. Supplemental Oxygen Therapy in Interstitial Lung Disease: A Narrative Review. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2023; 20(11): 1541-9.
Valenzi E, Bahudhanapati H, Tan J, Tabib T, Sullivan DI, Nouraie M, Sembrat J, Fan L, Chen K, Liu S, Rojas M, Lafargue A, Felsher DW,, Tran PT, Kass DJ, Lafyatis R. Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility identifies a critical role for TWIST1 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis myofibroblast activity. Eur Respir J. 2023; 62(1): 2200474.
Kass DJ, Nouraie M, Glassberg MK, Ramreddy N, Fernandez K, Harlow L, Zhang Y, Chen J, Kerr GS, Reimold AM, England BR, Mikuls TR, Gibson KF, Dellaripa PF, Rosas IO, Oddis CV, Ascherman DP. Comparative Profiling of Serum Protein Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020; 72(3): 409-19.
Bahudhanapati H, Tan J, Dutta JA, Strock SB, Sembrat J, Àlvarez D, Rojas M, Jäger B, Prasse A, Zhang Y, Kass DJ. MicroRNA-144-3p targets relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) expression in lung fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Biol Chem. 2019; 294(13): 5008-22.
Tan J, Tedrow JR, Nouraie M, Dutta JA, Miller DT, Li X, Yu S, Chu Y, Juan-Guardela B, Kaminski N,, Ramani K, Biswas PS, Zhang Y, Kass DJ. Loss of Twist1 in the Mesenchymal Compartment Promotes Increased Fibrosis in Experimental Lung Injury by Enhanced Expression of CXCL12. J Immunol. 2017; 198(6): 2269-85.
Tan J, Tedrow JR, Dutta JA, Nouraie M, Juan-Guardela B, Chu Y, Trejo Bittar H, Ramani K, Biswas PS, Veraldi KL, Kaminski N, Zhang Y, Kass DJ. Expression of RXFP1 is Decreased in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Implications for Relaxin-Based Therapies. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2016.
Bridges RS, Kass D, Loh K, Glackin C, Borczuk AC, Greenberg S. Gene expression profiling of pulmonary fibrosis identifies Twist1 as an antiapoptotic molecular "rectifier" of growth factor signaling. Am J Pathol. 2009; 175(6): 2351-61.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Epidemiology of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Western Pennsylvania R2019-01
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Boehringer Pharmaceuticals
Grant Number: CONTRACT
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2022
Title: Twist1 Subphenotypes and Pulmonary Fibrosis
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL126990
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2020
Title: Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes of Hydroxychloroquine Trial (HERO-HCQ Trial)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Duke Clinical Research Institue / Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2021
Title: A Novel Approach to Reverse the Ineffectiveness of Relaxin-Based Anti-Fibrotic Therapy in SSc
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Health
Grant Number: R21 AR076024
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2021

Division Websites

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Endocrinology and Metabolism

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Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

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Phone:  412-648-9636
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