The heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) system consists of the enzyme heme oxygenase-1 and the products of the degradation of heme, carbon monoxide, biliverdin, and iron. Overexpression of HO-1 protects cells and tissues from immune-mediated injury as well as oxidative damage, indicating that HO-1 and its products are an important immunoregulatory mechanism. The mechanisms of this regulation are unknown. We have shown that the absence of HO-1 strongly affects differentiation of resident dendritic cell (DC) subsets in vivo and abrogates regulatory T cell mediated suppression of T cell activation by DC in vitro. These findings support the concept that modulation of the immune response, and therefore allograft rejection, is through the effect of HO- 1 on the differentiation and function of DCs. In support of our overall goal of identification of unique molecular targets for modulation of immune responses, we propose to determine how host HO-1 expression affects the differentiation of resident DC subpopulations and how expression of HO-1 by DCs modulates inflammatory responses in vivo in a renal allograft model of chronic rejection. This objective will be pursued using unique tools developed by the PIs, including i) a transgenic floxed HO-1 mouse strain permitting selective expression of HO-1 by cross-breeding with the appropriate cre recombinants;a CD11c-DC specific HO-1 overexpressing strain;ii) a GFP+ HO-1-/- mouse strain;and iii) an orthotopic murine renal transplantation model of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) with features that resemble human CAN. We will address the following specific aims: 1) to test the hypothesis that HO-1 regulates the distribution and differentiation of DC subpopulations in the peripheral lymphoid organs;2) to test the hypothesis that HO-1 regulates the development of inflammation, fibrosis and vascular disease in CAN by modulation of DC activation and homing in renal allografts;3) to determine the therapeutic potential of manipulation of HO-1 expression in DCs for kidney allografts by testing the hypothesis that HO-1 overexpressing DC will prolong graft survival, improve renal function and alleviate histological features of CAN. Current research and paradigms with respect to the control of the immune response to solid organ allografts are centered on control of T cell activation and clonal expansion. This approach has been successful in reducing acute allograft rejection, but has not made satisfactory inroads into long-term graft losses due to chronic rejection. The proposed studies are designed to address this need by examining the role of a unique molecular target, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which is part of a group of stress proteins shown to provide cytoprotection. HO-1 is unique among these proteins because of its association with immunomodulation, and protection against fibrosis and vascular disease. Safe, effective therapeutic application of this molecule, effected by manipulation of HO-1 activity or the relative abundance of its substrates and products, requires a much better understanding of its role in immunity and long-term graft survival.
Inflammation, especially chronic inflammation, remains one of the most problematic clinical phenomena. This grant explores the mechanisms of a recently discovered mode of regulation of inflammation that is part of the body's system of handling toxic heme molecules, the generation of carbon monoxide, biliverdin, and iron by the heme oxygenase---1 enzyme. The new information generated here could lead to new therapeutic targets by which we could control inflammation, one of the most highly sought goals in public health.
| Lever, Jeremie M; Yang, Zhengqin; Boddu, Ravindra et al. (2018) Parabiosis reveals leukocyte dynamics in the kidney. Lab Invest 98:391-402 |
| Bolisetty, Subhashini; Traylor, Amie; Joseph, Reny et al. (2016) Proximal tubule-targeted heme oxygenase-1 in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 310:F385-94 |
| Hull, Travis D; Boddu, Ravindra; Guo, Lingling et al. (2016) Heme oxygenase-1 regulates mitochondrial quality control in the heart. JCI Insight 1:e85817 |
| Bolisetty, Subhashini; Zarjou, Abolfazl; Hull, Travis D et al. (2015) Macrophage and epithelial cell H-ferritin expression regulates renal inflammation. Kidney Int 88:95-108 |
| Ong, Song; Mannon, Roslyn B (2015) Genomic and proteomic fingerprints of acute rejection in peripheral blood and urine. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 29:60-7 |
| James, Alexandra; Mannon, Roslyn B (2015) The Cost of Transplant Immunosuppressant Therapy: Is This Sustainable? Curr Transplant Rep 2:113-121 |
| Hull, Travis D; Kamal, Ahmed I; Boddu, Ravindra et al. (2015) Heme Oxygenase-1 Regulates Myeloid Cell Trafficking in AKI. J Am Soc Nephrol 26:2139-51 |
| Hull, Travis D; Agarwal, Anupam (2014) Bilirubin: a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes 63:2613-6 |
| Hull, Travis D; Agarwal, Anupam; George, James F (2014) The mononuclear phagocyte system in homeostasis and disease: a role for heme oxygenase-1. Antioxid Redox Signal 20:1770-88 |
| Hull, Travis D; Bolisetty, Subhashini; DeAlmeida, Angela C et al. (2013) Heme oxygenase-1 expression protects the heart from acute injury caused by inducible Cre recombinase. Lab Invest 93:868-79 |
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