Jing Zhao, Ph.D.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a syndrome in which the small blood vessels in the lungs become impaired, causing them to leak fluid and inflammatory cells into the lungs as a response to infection, shock or the presence of noxious agents. We will examine the inflammatory property of two proteins, FBXL19 and USP14, involved in ALI. FBXL19 exhibits an anti-inflammatory property, while the effect is reversed by USP14. Results from these studies could be used to develop treatments that inhibit USP14 and reduce the severity of lung injury.

Update: We have verified that FBXL19 exhibits an anti-inflammatory property, while the effect is reversed by USP14. A molecule called IU1 that inhibits USP14 increases FBXL19 protein levels. This suppresses infection-induced cytokine storm a potentially fatal immune reaction and reduces the severity of lung injury.