REGULATION OF THE STIMULATION OF MUCIN GENE EXPRESSION A

University Of Texas Md Anderson Can Ctr, Houston TX

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (Taken from the Candidate's Abstract) Acute or chronic exposure of environmental insults and toxicants trigger inflammatory pulmonary conditions, resulting in infiltration of inflammatory cells and elevation of inflammatory mediators, and alteration of the integrity and function of the airway epithelium. Hypersecreted visco-elastic mucus causes obstruction of central and peripheral airways in many inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis. Inhibition of over expressed pathophysiologic mucus is one of the major targets for treatments of airway inflammatory disorders. Previously, the candidate has shown that tetinoic acid (RA), a key element required for mucous cell differentiation, mucin production, and mucin gene expression is mediated through retinoic acid receptor alpha. Based on these findings, the candidate hypothesizes that repressing receptor alpha activity will inhibit over expression of mucin gene mRNAs and mucin hypersecretion induced by inflammatory mediators. The specific aims are to clarify: 1) the biochemical mechanisms by which inflammatory mediators increase the expression of mucin gene mRNAs and mucin secretion; 2) the molecular mechanisms by which receptor alpha signaling pathway regulate inflammatory mediators-increased mucin production; and, 3) the molecular mechanisms of a cross-talk between receptor alpha and IL-1 beta signaling pathways.