Faculty Biography

Dr. Michael C. Braun

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Education:

M.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Philadelphia, PA

Pediatric Residency, Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati. Ohio

Research Fellowship, National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland

Clinical and Research Interests:

1. Dr. Braun's research interests are focused on the interactions of a group of blood proteins, the complement system, and their role in modulating inflammatory diseases of the kidney such as lupus nephritis (SLE) and other autoimmune renal diseases. Dr. Braun is working both with animal models of these diseases and at a molecular level in order to expand our understanding of basic disease mechanisms. He has shown that in the MRLlpr mouse model of lupus nephritis, that C5a receptor deficiency results in a significant reduction in renal injury as well as reductions in T-cell recruitment and activation. These data provide, for the first time, experimental support for the use of C5a inhibitors in the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Studies examining the effect of C3a receptor deficiency and combined C3a and C5a receptor deficiency are on-going. Dr. Braun is also characterizing the effects of C5a and C3a receptor deficiencies in a purely complement dependent model of renal injury-murine Factor H deficiency. Preliminary findings suggest that, similar to the MRLlpr data, loss of function of the C3a or C5a receptor results in significant attenuation of kidney damage. Taken together, these findings indicate that inhibition of C3a and C5a are likely to be therapeutic targets for the treatment of a wide range of immune mediated renal diseases. Finally, in collaboration with Dr. Rowen Chang (IMM, Protein Core Facility) and Dr. William Dubinsky (Director, UTHSC-H Proteomics Core Facility), Dr. Braun is using advanced proteomic analysis to develop urinary biomarkers in the Factor H deficient mouse model. These studies are designed not only to provide insight into mechanisms by which chronic complement activation mediated renal injury, but also to provide translational approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease in humans.
2. Dr. Braun received the Kidney Foundation of Greater Cincinnati Research Award in 1995, and a Fellows Award for Research Excellence in 1999 from the NIH. Dr. Braun is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is board certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Nephrology. He is a fellow of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology and a member of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association.

Publications (selected):

• Braun MC, Li L, Ke B, Dubinsky WP, Pickering MC, Chang JY. Proteomic profiling of urinary protein excretion in the factor H-deficient mouse. Am J Nephrol. 2006;26(2):127-35.
• Wenderfer SE, Ke B, Hollmann TJ, Wetsel RA, Lan HY, Braun MC. C5a receptor deficiency attenuates T cell function and renal disease in MRLlpr mice. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2005 Dec;16(12):3572-82.
• Portman RJ, McNiece KL, Swinford RD, Braun MC, Samuels JA. Pediatric hypertension: diagnosis, evaluation, management, and treatment for the primary care physician. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2005 Aug;35(7):262-94.
• Braun MC, Stablein DM, Hamiwka LA, Bell L, Bartosh SM, Strife CF. Recurrence of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II in renal allografts: The North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study experience. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2005 Jul;16(7):2225-33.
• Braun MC, Reins RY, Li TB, Hollmann TJ, Dutta R, Rick WA, Teng BB, Ke B. Renal expression of the C3a receptor and functional responses of primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells. J Immunol. 2004 Sep 15;173(6):4190-6.
• Weller S, Braun MC, Tan BK, Rosenwald A, Cordier C, Conley ME, Plebani A, Kumararatne DS, Bonnet D, Tournilhac O, Tchernia G, Steiniger B, Staudt LM, Casanova JL, Reynaud CA, Weill JC. Human blood IgM "memory" B cells are circulating splenic marginal zone B cells harboring a prediversified immunoglobulin repertoire. Blood. 2004 Dec 1;104(12):3647-54.
• Braun MC, Kelly CN, Prada AE, Mishra J, Chand D, Devarajan P, Zahedi K. Human PRMT5 expression is enhanced during in vitro tubule formation and after in vivo ischemic injury in renal epithelial cells. Am J Nephrol. 2004 Mar-Apr;24(2):250-7.
• Yo Y, Braun MC, Barisoni L, Mobaraki H, Lu H, Shrivastav S, Owens J, Kopp JB. Anti-mouse mesangial cell serum induces acute glomerulonephropathy in mice. Nephron Exp Nephrol. 2003;93(3):e92-106.
• Braun MC, Wang JM, Lahey E, Rabin RL, Kelsall BL. Activation of the formyl peptide receptor by the HIV-derived peptide T-20 suppresses interleukin-12 p70 production by human monocytes. Blood. 2001 Jun 1;97(11):3531-6.
• Braun MC, Kelsall BL. Regulation of interleukin-12 production by G-protein-coupled receptors. Microbes Infect. 2001 Feb;3(2):99-107.
• Braun MC, Lahey E, Kelsall BL. Selective suppression of IL-12 production by chemoattractants. J Immunol. 2000 Mar 15;164(6):3009-17.
• Braun MC, West CD, Strife CF. Differences between membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis types I and III in long-term response to an alternate-day prednisone regimen. Am J Kidney Dis. 1999 Dec;34(6):1022-32.
• Braun MC, He J, Wu CY, Kelsall BL. Cholera toxin suppresses interleukin (IL)-12 production and IL-12 receptor beta1 and beta2 chain expression. J Exp Med. 1999 Feb 1;189(3):541-52.
• Braun MC, Welch TR. Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration in the treatment of acute hyperammonemia. Am J Nephrol. 1998;18(6):531-3.
• Braun MC, Cohn RA, Kletzel M. Nephrotic syndrome accompanying familial hemophagocytic syndrome. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1996 May;18(2):195-7.

 

Location & Contact

6431 Fannin Street
MSB 3.020
Houston, Texas 77030
713-500-5757 (Voice)

Faculty Biography

• Dr. Michael C. Braun
  Assistant Professor
• Department of Pediatrics
  Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension
• University of Texas-Houston Medical School
  6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.124
  Houston, Texas 77030
• phone: (713) 500-5670
  fax: (713) 500-5680
  e-mail: Michael.C.Braun@ uth.tmc.edu