Sepsis remains a current medical challenge. The frequency of this devastating disease is increasing and is associated with a death rate as high as 70%. It is often exacerbated by edema, which promotes fluid accumulation in tissues, causes an enhanced inflammatory response and induces fibrosis. Over time this can lead multiple organ failure and death. Currently there are no therapies for blocking vascular leakage in sepsis. This is primarily because the molecular mechanisms regulating vascular permeability are not completely understood. Focusing on the mechanisms of vascular permeability would potentially provide valuable targets for therapeutic intervention to prevent inflammation and edema due to sepsis. We have identified a novel mechanism by which vascular barrier integrity is maintained. The primary goal of this proposal is to elucidate this mechanism further and thereby identify potential new therapeutic targets. We have previously reported an interaction between RRas and Filamin A (FLN). RRas, an intracellular GTP-binding protein, is primarily expressed in endothelial cells in vivo and is a regulator of arterial endothelial function. The cytoskeletal protein FLN is required for cell-cell contact in vascular development. Indeed, FLN-null mice die of vascular defects. We have recently reported that in arterial endothelial cells endogenous RRas interacts with endogenous FLN. Furthermore, endothelial barrier function is dependent upon active RRas and an association between RRas and FLN. Thus, we propose the innovative hypothesis that the RRas and FLN complex is a primary driver in maintaining endothelial barrier function. This proposal will focus on the RRas and FLN complex as a point of integration between several select signaling pathways involved in regulating vascular permeability. This study will test whether this RRas is a therapeutic target in preclinical mouse models of sepsis. .!

Public Health Relevance

The cellular mechanisms regulating sepsis-initiated vascular permeability are not yet completely known and there are no therapies available that block vascular leakage in sepsis. We have identified a novel mechanism by which vascular barrier integrity is maintained. We propose that the association of RRas with Filamin A may regulate vascular permeability. We will test whether this complex is a therapeutic target in preclinical mouse models of sepsis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM104984-03
Application #
8717691
Study Section
Vascular Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (VCMB)
Program Officer
Dunsmore, Sarah
Project Start
2012-09-01
Project End
2017-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Hawaii
Department
Biology
Type
Earth Sciences/Resources
DUNS #
City
Honolulu
State
HI
Country
United States
Zip Code
96822
Shi, Geng-Xian; Yang, Won Seok; Jin, Ling et al. (2018) RSK2 drives cell motility by serine phosphorylation of LARG and activation of Rho GTPases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:E190-E199
Sulzmaier, Florian J; Young-Robbins, Shirley; Jiang, Pengfei et al. (2016) RSK2 activity mediates glioblastoma invasiveness and is a potential target for new therapeutics. Oncotarget 7:79869-79884
Griffiths, Genevieve S; Doe, Jinger; Jijiwa, Mayumi et al. (2015) Bit-1 is an essential regulator of myogenic differentiation. J Cell Sci 128:1707-17
Walton, Chad B; Matter, Michelle L (2015) Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay: Examining the Interaction of NFkB with the VEGF Promoter. Methods Mol Biol 1332:75-87
Anastasiadis, Pavlos; Mojica, Kristina D A; Allen, John S et al. (2014) Detection and quantification of bacterial biofilms combining high-frequency acoustic microscopy and targeted lipid microparticles. J Nanobiotechnology 12:24