Research

Novel Mechanisms in Chronic Lung Disease

Chronic Lung Diseases (CLDs) such as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) represent the third-leading cause of death in the US.  Despite reductions in mortality in cancer and cardiovascular disease, mortality rates for CLD have remained unaffected over the last decade.  This is a direct result of disparate funding allocated toward research in CLD that in no way reflects the heavy societal burden of the disease, as well as an overwhelming lack of effective therapies capable of targeting the airspace and vascular remodeling that is a pervasive hallmark in many CLDs.  Through the use of experimental models of disease and access to the UTHealth Pulmonary Center of Excellence Bio-bank, our research aims to understand the processes that govern disease progression in order to develop new therapies that are desperately needed.

Understanding How Changes in the Lung Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Lead to Vascular Remodeling in PH Associated with IPF

The presence of PH in patients with IPF is the single most significant predictor of mortality, yet there are no cures at present that effectively prevent or treat PH in patients with IPF.  In this project we have identified increased levels of hyaluronan, a component of the lung ECM, in the lung of patients with a diagnosis of PH associated with IPF.  We next demonstrate that the increase in hyaluronan is mediated by an elevation in hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), an enzyme that makes hyaluronan.  Finally, we demonstrate that treatment with hymecromone, a drug that inhibits HAS2, is able to reduce levels of hyaluronan and treats PH associated with IPF.

We are currently examining the mechanisms that lead to HAS2 increases in patients with IPF and examining how selective deletion of HAS2 from smooth muscle cells contributes to the development of PH.

Evaluating How Changes in mRNA 3’UTR Length Participates in the Development of COPD

In collaboration with leaders in RNA-biology and with Dr. Leng Han, an expert in bio-informatics at UTHealth, we have identified changes in the 3’UTR length of mRNAs in patients with COPD.  These mRNAs encode many proteins associated with the development of disease.  In addition, we show that a protein known as cleavage factor 25 (CFlm25) regulates the length of of the 3UTRs and that depletion of this protein results in global shortening of mRNAs.  This protein was also found to be depleted in patients with COPD.  Our research efforts are aimed at elucidating how 3’UTR shortening contributes to the development of COPD, using tissue samples from the UTHealth Pulmonary Center of Excellence bio-bank and sophisticated experimental models of disease.

Research Interests:

Pulmonary Hypertension, Lung Fibrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.