Despite compelling experimental evidence linking inflammation to the pathogenesis of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), anti-inflammatory clinical trials have systematically failed to demonstrate beneficial effects in patients. This failure is often ascribed to the interrelated prospects that pan-suppression of inflammation is deleterious or that anti-inflammatories also inhibit protective stress responses. Thus, identifying novel targets to treat ARDS requires an understanding of the basic biology underlying key molecules that drive both pro-inflammatory responses in immune cells and protective stress adaptation programs in non-immune cells. Preliminary Data show that, in addition to inducing pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages, Caspase-1 protease activation protects Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cell (PMVEC) and Pulmonary Arterial Endothelial Cell (PAEC) barrier function in response to infection. Additional data presented herein support a model in which Caspase-1 degrades glycolytic and mitochondrial proteins in PMVECs and PAECs as a protective strategy that limits accumulation of advanced N-glycation end products (AGEs) and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RS) induced by infection. Intriguingly, the model opportunistic pathogen (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and vasculotropic pathogen (Rickettsia prowazekii) used in these studies both deploy homologous secreted phospholipase A2 toxins (ExoU) that inhibit Caspase-1 activation. The proposed experiments will test the Hypothesis that Caspase-1 activation in PMVECs and PAECs elicits degradation of glycolytic and mitochondrial proteins as an adaptive stress response to protect barrier function.
Specific Aim 1 will elucidate mechanisms of Caspase-1 activation in PMVECs and PAECs by: 1.1) Defining the mechanisms by which PMVECs and PAECs sense infection at the level of Inflammasome signaling using a Split Venus fluorescence complementation reporter. 1.2) Determining mechanisms by which the ExoU secreted toxin inhibits Caspase-1 activation using phospholipase A2 signaling inhibitors.
Specific Aim 2 will elucidate mechanisms of Caspase-1-induced stress responses in PMVECs and PAECs by: 2.1) Elucidating glycolytic and mitochondrial proteins degraded by Caspase-1 and validating targets by site-directed mutagenesis and enzyme function assays. 2.2) Determining whether Caspase-1 protects PMVEC and PAEC barrier function during infection. Molecular and pharmacologic approaches will be used to either down-regulate or up-regulate Caspase-1 followed by assessment of barrier function, AGEs, and RS. Inhibitors of glycolytic intermediates, AGEs, and/or RS will unveil their roles in barrier demise.
Specific Aim 3 will correlate Caspase- 1 activation and mitochondrial function with ARDS patient outcomes by: 3.1) Measuring active Caspase-1 and mitochondrial respiration in immune cells and non-immune cells. 3.2) Correlating outcomes with patient mortality and ventilator-free days. Long-term impact on human health and translational potential lie in identifying targets for therapies to treat ARDS, which are currently lacking.

Public Health Relevance

The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of lung failure affecting humans, with more than 190,000 reported cases in the U.S. per year. Despite the severity and prevalence of this debilitating and often lethal respiratory condition, there are currently no specific therapies available to facilitate treatment and augment patient recovery. Thus, the goal of this proposal is to position our novel discovery that Caspase-1 protects lung endothelial cell function in the pipeline for development of therapeutics to combat ARDS.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01HL118334-03S1
Application #
9402860
Study Section
Respiratory Integrative Biology and Translational Research Study Section (RIBT)
Program Officer
Xiao, Lei
Project Start
2015-04-01
Project End
2020-03-31
Budget Start
2017-06-01
Budget End
2018-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$40,905
Indirect Cost
$13,905
Name
University of South Alabama
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
172750234
City
Mobile
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
36688
Audia, Jonathon P; Yang, Xi-Ming; Crockett, Edward S et al. (2018) Caspase-1 inhibition by VX-765 administered at reperfusion in P2Y12 receptor antagonist-treated rats provides long-term reduction in myocardial infarct size and preservation of ventricular function. Basic Res Cardiol 113:32
Lin, Mike T; Balczon, Ron; Pittet, Jean-Francois et al. (2018) Nosocomial Pneumonia Elicits an Endothelial Proteinopathy: Evidence for a Source of Neurotoxic Amyloids in Critically Ill Patients. Am J Respir Crit Care Med :
Yang, Xi-Ming; Downey, James M; Cohen, Michael V et al. (2017) The Highly Selective Caspase-1 Inhibitor VX-765 Provides Additive Protection Against Myocardial Infarction in Rat Hearts When Combined With a Platelet Inhibitor. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther 22:574-578
Alvarez, Diego F; Housley, Nicole; Koloteva, Anna et al. (2016) Caspase-1 Activation Protects Lung Endothelial Barrier Function during Infection-Induced Stress. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 55:500-510
Richards, William O; Prutzman, Kelley Bose; O'Hea, Martha F et al. (2014) Bariatric surgery improves the circulating numbers and biological activity of late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells. Surg Obes Relat Dis 10:906-13