Our research focus is to understand the loss of antioxidants, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in the pathogenesis of asthma. Ongoing studies are aimed at investigating the mechanisms of SOD loss and identifying strategies for intervention that may result in novel therapies.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) plays a very important role in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species and maintaining health of human tissues. SOD degrades superoxide and exists in three forms, including intracellular manganese SOD and Cu-Zn SOD and an extracellular SOD. Our studies have shown that loss of SOD activity is a primary event in the pathophysiology of the airway inflammation of asthma. As a consequence of SOD inactivation, cells undergo apoptosis in vitro, and in vivo this results in shedding of airway epithelial cells. Recently, we have found a link between the loss of SOD and increased levels of oxidative and nitrative stress in the circulation of asthmatics. These studies validate a rationale to assess antioxidants in the treatment of asthma.
The Lung Tissue and Cell Core organizes a large clinical dataset and paired samples from research participants into materials required for research projects. Explanted lungs are processed by the core to culture human primary cells, such as pulmonary arterial endothelial cells, pulmonary microvessels, pulmonary arterial and bronchial smooth muscle cells and primary airway epithelial cells.
