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A redox-sensitive switch in the macrophage nucleus regulates acute phaseinflammatory injury

Award Number: R01HL163820
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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A redox-sensitive switch in the macrophage nucleus regulates acute phaseinflammatory injury - SUMMARY This application is based on the discovery that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) within the nucleus of macrophages are powerful signals regulating the polarization of the early immune response and, in particular, the activation of the acute phase of inflammation. Specifically, we found that the promoters of a subset of pro-inflammatory NFκB-target genes, while remaining constitutively accessible, are muted by association with SOCS1, a redox sensitive protein that binds and depletes incoming p65 NFκB. This mechanism simultaneously prevents inflammatory tissue injury during homeostasis as well as provides a rapid and specific pathway to mobilizing aggressive innate immune cells to hunt and kill highly proliferative pathogenic microbes. NOS1-derived nitric oxide (NO) displaces SOCS1 by S-nitrosylation licensing the transcription of acute pro-inflammatory NFκB-target genes. Because H2O2 (ROS) can modify cysteines similarly to NO, we hypothesize that oxidative stress in the nucleus mimics NO, displacing SOCS1 from regulatory regions of pro-inflammatory genes as well as preventing its de novo deposition thereby extending the acute phase of inflammation and preventing the transition to inflammatory resolution and tissue healing. Clinically, this exacerbates pulmonary tissue injury and elevates the risk of ARDS in patients with underlying oxidative stress caused by old age, smoking, autoimmunity, or other conditions. Interestingly, we found that although suppressing nuclear NO or ROS eliminates much of the inflammatory tissue injury in response to LPS, the ability of mice to control K. pneumoniae infection remains intact, indicating that targeting nuclear NO and ROS with existing compounds may be clinically useful to prevent at-risk patients from evolving to ARDS. Currently, ARDS prevention and management is accomplished by the use of powerful immunosuppressive drugs that compromise the ability of the patient to fight infection. In this regard, this proposed project has the potential to advance a long sought goal in the field that is finding ways to suppress inflammatory tissue injury and ARDS while preserving the ability of innate immune cells to eliminate infectious agents intact.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $613,814 )
2025	2025	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 USF MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Lung Diseases Research	001	4	7/23/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$613,814
2025	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	3	7/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $613,814

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $544,709 )
2024	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	3	6/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$544,709
														Subtotal = $544,709

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $555,826 )
2023	2023	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	2	5/16/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$555,826
														Subtotal = $555,826

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $570,826 )
2022	2022	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	1	5/31/2022	NEW	$570,826
														Subtotal = $570,826

Grand Total All Awards = $2,285,175

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A redox-sensitive switch in the macrophage nucleus regulates acute phaseinflammatory injury

Award Number: R01HL163820

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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