Mitochondrial regulation of macrophage activation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Project Summary/Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States. This lung disease is primarily associated with cigarette smoke usage and is characterized by damage to lung epithelium leading to macrophage-driven chronic inflammation, destruction of lung alveoli and airway thickening. This disease currently has no efficacious treatments and the initiating aberrant cellular pathways that lead to chronic inflammation in COPD remain unclear. Macrophage metabolism and activation are intimately linked, and dramatic shifts in metabolism have been observed depending on macrophage phenotype. Moreover, cigarette smoke is known to change cellular metabolism. The mitochondrial protein, adenine nucleotide translocase 1 (Ant1), is a critical regulator of cellular metabolism and ATP transport and the expression of this protein is downregulated in COPD lungs. To study the relationship between immune cellular metabolism and COPD pathogenesis, I utilize macrophages from Ant1-null mice in a smoke exposure model. I hypothesize that loss of Ant1 in alveolar macrophages impedes the activation of macrophages in the lung, thus preventing chronic inflammation that contributes to tissue remodeling and destruction in COPD. My proposal addresses the following aims: Aim 1: To determine the role of Ant1 in macrophage plasticity and inflammatory responses due to cigarette smoke. Aim 2: To determine the metabolic mechanisms by which Ant1 modulates macrophage activation in COPD pathogenesis. Together, these experiments uncover the function of immunometabolism in basic macrophage biology and in COPD pathogenesis. My proposal includes rigorous mentored research training with experienced mentors, the support of various collaborators, longitudinal clinical experience, and professional development pursuits. The scientific, technical, and professional skills gained during this training period will be critical in my development as an aspiring independent physician scientist researcher at the forefront of pulmonary immune cell biology.