Abstract

This grant will investigate the pro-inflammatory feedback reaction that develops between interleukin (IL)-4 (and other cytokines) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) that leads to the inflammation, hyperplasia, and airway remodeling observed in chronic hyperplastic eosinophilic sinusitis (CHES) and asprin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). AERD is a syndrome characterized by severe persistent asthma, aggressive airway remodeling, extensive hyperplastic eosinophilic sinusitis with nasal polyp (NP) formation, and intolerance to aspirin. Eosinophils are essential to the fibrotic processes associated with asthma and CHES. Aspirin intolerance reflects increased expression of leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) and CysLT receptor expression and, as a result, these subjects have constitutive overproduction and heightened responsiveness to CysLTs. CysLTs function through their ability to interact with two homologous receptors: CysLTI and CysLT2 both of which are highly upregulated in AERD. We hypothesize that CysLTs contribute to the hyperplasia, fibrosis, and remodeling of AERD through their activation of eosinophils. Both the pathway responsible for CysLT synthesis and the expression of CysLT receptors are tightly regulated by cytokines, including prominently, IL-4. This pro-inflammatory feedback between CysLTs and IL-4 promotes eosinophil- mediated inflammation, mucus gland secretion, and the proliferation of airway smooth muscle, epithelium, and endothelium, leading to fibrosis.
In specific aim #1 we will dissect individual roles for CysLTI and CysLT2 receptors in these processes. Our hypothesis is that whereas the CysLTI receptor may be uniquely involved in bronchospasm, the upregulation of CysLT2 receptor-dependent pathways has more important remodeling functions in CHES/AERD.
Specific aim #2 will investigate the regulation of CysLT receptors and LTC4S expression by IL-4. Finally, aspirin desensitization is an effective treatment for AERD. Therefore specific aim #3 will investigate the role of IL-4 antagonism by aspirin as the therapeutic basis for the efficacy of this procedure

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI057438-04
Application #
7561648
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IMM-J (02))
Program Officer
Minnicozzi, Michael
Project Start
2006-02-01
Project End
2011-01-31
Budget Start
2009-02-01
Budget End
2010-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$360,779
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Virginia
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
065391526
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22904

  Publications

Straesser, Matthew D; Oliver, Eric; Palacios, Thamiris et al. (2018) Serum IgE as an immunological marker to predict response to omalizumab treatment in symptomatic chronic urticaria. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 6:1386-1388.e1
Steinke, John W; Smith, Anna R; Carpenter, Delaney J et al. (2017) Lack of Efficacy of Symptoms and Medical History in Distinguishing the Degree of Eosinophilia in Nasal Polyps. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 5:1582-1588.e3
Turner, R B; Woodfolk, J A; Borish, L et al. (2017) Effect of probiotic on innate inflammatory response and viral shedding in experimental rhinovirus infection - a randomised controlled trial. Benef Microbes 8:207-215
Lawrence, Monica G; Steinke, John W; Borish, Larry (2016) Basic science for the clinician: Mechanisms of sublingual and subcutaneous immunotherapy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 117:138-42
Borish, L (2016) Non-specific airway hyperreactivity in asthma: a clinical correlate to … what exactly? Clin Exp Allergy 46:189-91
Steinke, John W; Borish, Larry (2016) Chronic rhinosinusitis phenotypes. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 117:234-40
Borish, Larry (2016) The immunology of asthma: Asthma phenotypes and their implications for personalized treatment. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 117:108-14
Steinke, John W; Borish, Larry (2016) Immune Responses in Rhinovirus-Induced Asthma Exacerbations. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 16:78
Lal, Devyani; Jategaonkar, Ameya A; Borish, Larry et al. (2016) Management of rhinosinusitis during pregnancy: systematic review and expert panel recommendations. Rhinology 54:99-104
Kennedy, Joshua L; Steinke, John W; Liu, Lixia et al. (2016) Failure of itraconazole to prevent T-helper type 2 cell immune deviation: Implications for chronic rhinosinusitis. Am J Rhinol Allergy 30:379-384

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