Alcohol has long been associated with anti-inflammation and immunosuppression. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully defined. In the preliminary studies, we performed whole-genome high-density microarray analyses on human airway epithelia exposed to varied doses of alcohol. A cluster of alcohol-responsive genes was identified. Among them, glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ), a prominent glucocorticoid (GC) target gene, responded to alcohol in a dose-dependent manner. GILZ is a major mediator to transduce glucosteroid actions in cells. This novel finding reveals a potentially important signaling pathway which may contribute to the alcohol-associated anti-inflammation and immunosuppression. The ultimate goal of this application is to define alcohol-specific GILZ regulatory network at the system level. There are three specific aims: 1) Specific Aim 1: To identify the trans-acting factors which bind to the GILZ gene promoter and are responsible for alcohol-mediated activation of GILZ;
Specific Aim 2 : To examine GILZ chromosomal occupancy induced by alcohol by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to profile the GILZ-targeting sequences across the genome and to delineate the alcohol-specific GILZ molecular network;3) Specific Aim 3: To define the GILZ role in inflammatory cytokine response to LPS in multiple types of cells under alcohol exposure. The proposed research will allow us to test the central hypothesis that the alcohol-induced GILZ upregulation contributes to alcohol anti- inflammation and immunosuppression through a specific regulatory network. By completion of this proposal, we will gain the groundbreaking knowledge to help understand how alcohol acts like steroids to modulate cellular functions molecularly. This research will provide new insights into the mechanism of alcohol-induced anti-inflammation and immunosuppression, which may lead to rational design of therapeutics for the treatment of alcohol-associated diseases.

Public Health Relevance

This project is to investigate a novel mechanism, recently discovered in the PI's laboratory, whereby alcohol directly activates the glucosteroid signaling pathway. Systems-biology analytic approaches will be used to decipher the molecular networking underlying the mechanism at the system level. This research will lead to exciting data to help explain why alcohol acts like steroids to produce anti-inflammation and immunomodulation effects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AA021824-02
Application #
8743169
Study Section
Biomedical Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Jung, Kathy
Project Start
2013-09-26
Project End
2015-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Louisiana State Univ Hsc New Orleans
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70112
Ng, Hang Pong; Jennings, Scott; Wang, Jack et al. (2017) Non-canonical Glucocorticoid Receptor Transactivation of gilz by Alcohol Suppresses Cell Inflammatory Response. Front Immunol 8:661
Cannon, Abigail R; Morris, Niya L; Hammer, Adam M et al. (2016) Alcohol and inflammatory responses: Highlights of the 2015 Alcohol and Immunology Research Interest Group (AIRIG) meeting. Alcohol 54:73-7