Acute lung injury within 72 hours of lung transplantation, termed Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD), is a major cause of early post-transplant morbidity and mortality. PGD results in increased healthcare costs and poor functional outcomes for lung allograft recipients. Importantly, PGD is also a risk factor for developing Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome, the main cause of late graft failure and death in this population. Therapeutic strategies aimed at ameliorating PGD may extend post-transplant allograft and patient survival. However, the pathophysiologic mechanisms regulating PGD remain poorly understood, and additional experimental studies are needed to identify novel approaches for therapeutic modulation. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major determinant of PGD, and is associated with activation of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways initiated by toll- like receptors. Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 recognize damage-associated molecular patterns released by sterile tissue injury, which have been reported in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of human lung transplant recipients. Accordingly, we hypothesize that lung ischemia-reperfusion injury releases endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns, which promote PGD through activation of toll-like receptors. Using a novel mouse orthotopic lung transplant model that replicates the physiologic, histopathologic and immunologic features of human PGD, we will test this hypothesis with two specific aims: 1) Characterize the role of toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung graft injury, and 2) Characterize the role of damage-associated molecular patterns in ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung graft injury. Collectively, the studies proposed here are aimed at generating new insight into the pathophysiology of PGD and identifying potential pharmacologic targeting strategies for treating PGD in the context of a mentored career development plan. My long-term goal is to become an academic pulmonologist with a research focus in transplant immunobiology. The mentoring, training and support facilitated by this K08 career development award will enable me to acquire the training and expertise necessary for translating novel findings in experimental models to therapeutic strategies for treating lung allograft injury and rejection in humans.

Public Health Relevance

PROJECT NARRATIVE Primary graft dysfunction is the major cause of early morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation, and has been associated with an increased risk for developing bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and late graft failure. This project will investigate the role of innate immune signaling pathways in regulating primary graft dysfunction using a novel mouse model.
We aim to identify potential pharmacologic targeting strategies for treating primary graft dysfunction and improving post-lung transplant outcomes. )

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08HL107677-02
Application #
8263020
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-K (F1))
Program Officer
Colombini-Hatch, Sandra
Project Start
2011-07-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$120,337
Indirect Cost
$8,692
Name
Washington University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Ibrahim, Mohsen; Wang, Xingan; Puyo, Carlos A et al. (2015) Human recombinant apyrase therapy protects against canine pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Heart Lung Transplant 34:247-53
Huang, Howard J; Isakow, Warren; Byers, Derek E et al. (2015) Imaging pulmonary inducible nitric oxide synthase expression with PET. J Nucl Med 56:76-81
Guo, Jinbang; Huang, Howard J; Wang, Xingan et al. (2015) Imaging mouse lung allograft rejection with (1)H MRI. Magn Reson Med 73:1970-8
Todd, Jamie L; Wang, Xingan; Sugimoto, Seichiro et al. (2014) Hyaluronan contributes to bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and stimulates lung allograft rejection through activation of innate immunity. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 189:556-66
Chen, D L; Wang, X; Yamamoto, S et al. (2013) Increased T cell glucose uptake reflects acute rejection in lung grafts. Am J Transplant 13:2540-9
Yamamoto, Sumiharu; Nava, Ruben G; Zhu, Jihong et al. (2012) Cutting edge: Pseudomonas aeruginosa abolishes established lung transplant tolerance by stimulating B7 expression on neutrophils. J Immunol 189:4221-5
Kreisel, Daniel; Sugimoto, Seiichiro; Zhu, Jihong et al. (2011) Emergency granulopoiesis promotes neutrophil-dendritic cell encounters that prevent mouse lung allograft acceptance. Blood 118:6172-82