Jeffrey S. Berman, MD

Emeritus Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

I have had an interest in Pulmonary Immunology for over 20 years. I began by looking at basic mechanisms of lymphocyte accumulation in response to cytokine signals, and I have gradually turned my interest to clinical and translational research. In the past ten years I have divided my time between basic and translational investigations involving the novel cytokine, osteopontin, and clinical research involving patients with Sarcoidosis.

My interest in osteopontin (Opn) began upon hearing a report that OPN was the most prevalent message upregulated in macrophages upon exposure to mycobacterium. It is an odd duck amongst cytokines, in that it is prominently expressed in bone and is involved in disparate processes such as bone remodeling, wound healing, inflammation, and tumor metastasis. I have been interested in the immunologic and inflammatory aspects of Opn, and my laboratory has been involved in research linking Opn to T cell function, granuloma formation and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

My interest in Sarcoidosis rose out of my 20-year involvement in the Tuberculosis Clinic at the Boston City Hospital and an affiliated homeless shelter. Viewing Sarcoidosis as a “companion” disease to TB, I was intrigued by the mysteries behind this granulomatous disease. I gradually built a Sarcoid population within the TB clinic and 10 years ago spun off my current Sarcoid Clinic. My colleague, David Serlin, and I see approximately 150 new patients each year, some referred for second opinions and other referred for ongoing diagnosis or management. We have a number of clinical research projects ongoing, including the examination of the impact of atopy and nasal disease on Sarcoid clinical course, the use of nasal lavage and brushing for biopsy and prognostication in Sarcoidosis, diagnosis of cardiac disease, and management of calcium and bone metabolism in Sarcoidosis. We share clinic space and collaborate with Dr. Hap Farber and the Pulmonary Hypertension Center in the diagnosis and care of patients with Sarcoidosis who develop pulmonary arterial hypertension. We hope to soon be involved in a large national study of Sarcoidosis in African American women with Sarcoidosis.

Publications

  • Published 11/1/2022

    Cozier YC, Govender P, Berman JS. Obesity and Sarcoidosis Risk: An Index Under Suspicion. Chest. 2022 Nov; 162(5):954-956. PMID: 36344120.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/22/2021

    Lui JK, Mesfin N, Tugal D, Klings ES, Govender P, Berman JS. Critical Care of Patients With Cardiopulmonary Complications of Sarcoidosis. J Intensive Care Med. 2022 Apr; 37(4):441-458. PMID: 33611981.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/30/2020

    Abston E, Hon S, Lawrence R, Berman J, Govender P, Farber HW. Treatment of newly diagnosed sarcoid-associated pulmonary hypertension with ambrisentan and tadalafil combination therapy. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2020; 37(2):234-238. PMID: 33093789.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/30/2020

    Abston E, Moll M, Hon S, Govender P, Berman J, Farber H. Long-term outcomes of epoprostenol therapy in sarcoid associated pulmonary hypertension. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2020; 37(2):184-191. PMID: 33093782.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/1/2018

    Cozier YC, Govender P, Berman JS. Obesity and sarcoidosis: consequence or contributor? Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2018 09; 24(5):487-494. PMID: 29979212.

    Read at: PubMed

Other Positions

  • Member, Pulmonary Center
    Boston University

Education

  • Case Western Reserve University, MD
  • Yale University, BA