COBRE in Aging and Regenerative Medicine

COBRE in Aging and Regenerative Medicine Center for Aging

Aging is a biological process that is the major risk factor for chronic disease and degeneration during the lifespan. However, it is beginning to be appreciated that disease and degeneration impinge on the aging process, in something akin to a feedback loop, suggesting that a better knowledge of one contributes to an understanding of the other. This necessitates that development of therapeutic interventions must address the degenerative disorders of aging, while the search for broad interventions that target the biological aging process itself continues. Our COBRE in Aging and Regenerative Medicine has these twin objectives. This agenda calls for the creation and nurturing of an environment in which multidisciplinary research of sufficient breadth is focused on key elements of aging and regeneration. At the same time, it is necessary to populate this translational space with talented and successful investigators. Our Phase I and II COBRE launched and further propelled us in this direction by allowing us to seed several key research topics with ambitious investigators, who in just ten years have shown remarkable success by each securing at least one NIH R01 or R01-type grant at an average rate of 1.4 grants per year. Some have already secured a second R01, in addition to other research project grants such as R21. The multidisciplinary theme in aging and regenerative medicine that was adopted for our COBRE in Phase I was designed to capitalize on biomedical research interests and emerging potential at the university, with the goal of developing strength in focused areas across the basic, translational, and clinical continuum. Phase II built on this foundation to enhance research infrastructure, to expand further the ranks of aligned researchers, and to increase the center’s visibility on campus. The research topics explored in Phases I and II have now coalesced into four broad foci (Figure 1): Musculoskeletal and Soft Tissue Homeostasis and Adaptation; Neuroaging; Inflammation and Immunity in Aging; and Proliferative and Genomic Homeostasis during Aging. Multiple interconnections between the projects exist across stem cell function, wound healing, neurocognitive aging and neuroinflammation, metabolic regulation, inflammaging, cell proliferation, genome stability, and pathogenesis. On June 1, 2022, the COBRE in Aging and Regenerative Medicine entered Phase III, demonstrating an even faster pace of acquisition of R01 funding by our investigators. Phase III will allow us to continue to grow our cadre of dedicated investigators through our pilot projects and by enriching the research environment through our mentoring and training programs, as well as topical seminars. These efforts will be aided by the maintenance of a state-of-the-art Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Spatial Multiomics Cores {hyperlink} (Figure 2) that have a sustaining revenue base. Our emphasis is on multiplying the opportunities for interactions that will generate collaborative projects that are synergistic and competitive for multi-component project grant funding. The Phase III COBRE possesses a robust Pilot Projects Program, with three active pilot projects each year. These projects are awarded for one year with the potential for renewal for an additional year based on progress. All pilot project awardees have a dedicated, project-specific mentor. In addition, intensive mentoring is provided by two senior mentors who have many years of experience in faculty mentoring. The Pilot Projects Program also coordinates workshops devoted to career development, and the COBRE sponsors a seminar series {hyperlink} and an annual Distinguished Lecture in Aging {hyperlink}, which are organized by the Seminar Coordinator. All aspects of COBRE activity are overseen by the Steering Committee (Figure 3) with advice from the External Advisory Committee (Figure 4). We have a unique opportunity in our COBRE to make an important contribution to a major national health problem of the Twenty-First Century, which is related to the unprecedented expansion of life expectancy during the past several decades and especially to the continuing retirement of the baby-boomers. The latter alone raises hitherto unknown expectations related to the retention of physical and cognitive function abilities in the later decades of life

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Mechanisms of aging dependent inflammation via cytosolic DNA sensing and non- canonical NF-B pathways

The induction of type I interferon (IFN-I) cytokines plays an essential role in the innate immune response to virus infections by eliciting an antiviral gene program that facilitates the suppression of virus replication and spread. Cytosolic detection of viral nucleic acids by germ-line encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) serves as an initial first step in activating the IFN-I response. Emerging studies, however, have linked previously unknown roles for DNA sensing PRRs in detecting aberrant DNA species of self-origin to trigger the onset of age-related diseases, neurological disorders, and autoinflammatory conditions in the absence of infection. Thus, there is a critical need to delineate the mechanisms by which nucleic acid sensing PRRs control IFN-I activation to develop the next generation of therapeutics to combat viral infections as well as DNA damage driven disease states. We have recently identified a novel crosstalk phenomenon between cytosolic nucleic acid sensing PRRs that activate IFN-I and the non-canonical NF-κB pathway. While the non-canonical NF-B pathway primarily governs lymphoid organogenesis and B-cell survival and maintenance in response to extracellular ligation of select members of the TNF receptor superfamily, our data unexpectedly revealed that intracellular ligation of nucleic acid sensing cytosolic PRRs also resulted in non-canonical NF-B activation by causing the turnover of TNF receptor associated factor 3 (TRAF3), a key component of a steady-state negative regulatory complex that persistently causes the destabilization of the non-canonical NF-B inducing kinase (NIK) which initiates signaling to the non-canonical NF-B transcription factor complex. Our preliminary data further established that TRAF3 and NIK operate as differential regulators of IFN-I activation downstream of RNA and DNA sensing cytosolic PRRs. However, the mechanisms by which TRAF3 and NIK are controlled to modulate non-canonical NF-B and IFN-I activation upon nucleic acid detection by cytosolic PRRs are poorly defined. Here we interrogated published data sets that examined TRAF3 and NIK protein interaction networks with a goal of identifying novel candidates with the potential to modulate how the non-canonical NF-B pathway undergoes activation during cytosolic nucleic acid signaling and how the non-canonical NF-B effector, NIK cross-talks with the IFN-I signaling platform. We identify synaptosome associated protein 29 (SNAP29) as a TRAF3 interacting partner and zinc finger CCCH-type containing 18 (ZC3H18) as a NIK associated protein and seek to characterize how these proteins modulate TRAF3 and NIK function in the context non-canonical NF-B and IFN-I pathway activation. Our studies will help define new regulatory elements that control not only antiviral host defense programs, but also immune development and age related autoinflammatory disease states triggered by DNA damage or chromosomal instability.

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Role of mitochondrial fission in the aging cerebral vasculature

Aging is a major risk factor for cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, one of the leading causes of death in Louisiana. While aging is a natural process affecting us at the body, organ, and cellular levels, the aging-associated cellular and structural alterations contribute to and/or initiate heterogeneous pathophysiological cascades. The chronological order of these events, and their contribution to the development of aging-associated diseases, and the therapeutic potential of mitochondria remain unclear. We will study and identify mechanisms along the mitochondrial fission-beta-oxidation-calcium axis at both micro- and macrovascular levels in old, male, and female wild type mice. We will explore strategies to promote mitochondrial resilience via rejuvenating mitochondria (treatment with SS-31 + Mdivi-1) and minimizing mitochondrial quality control imbalance (treatment with Mdivi-1) to facilitate restoration of vascular function in aging. Electron microscopy will be used to investigate the effects of Mdivi-1 treatment alone, and in combination with SS-31 on mitochondrial integrity. Mitochondrial respirometry will be used to determine fuel source preference, whereas mitochondrial calcium influx and mitochondria-mediated calcium spark activity of large cerebral arteries will be used to determine the role of mitochondrial fission in these processes. High throughput proteomics assay will be used to elucidate proteins that are coupled to mitochondrial fission with focus on respiratory complex proteins, fission/fusion proteins, glycolysis related as well as calcium signalingrelated protein abundance.

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Targeting TRAF3IP2 Reduces Inflammaging to Improve Anti-Glioblastoma Immunity

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the deadliest brain cancer with poor prognosis. Increased age and age-related decline in immune function correlate with GBM incidence, pathogenesis and poor outcome. Aged-mediated increase in chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”), increased TH17/Treg ratio and decreased cytotoxic CD8 T cell response, which is the primary anti-tumor immune response, contributes to poor outcome in GBM. Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Factor 3 Interacting Protein 2 (TRAF3IP2) is a pro-inflammatory adaptive molecule that activates NF-kB and MAPK signaling. TRAF3IP2 is a critical mediator of TH17 mediated inflammation which drives GBM pathogenesis. Our preliminary data demonstrate targeting TRAF3IP2 in GBM suppresses tumor proliferation and metastasis by reducing inflammatory signaling and malignant metabolic pathways. We found that targeting TRAF3IP2 induces senescence in GBM, without a senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP). TRAF3IP2 mediated activation of GATA4 promotes SASP, which exacerbates inflammaging but also enriches glioma stem cells (GSCs). We demonstrate targeting TRAF3IP2 decreases expression of PD-L1, which is overexpressed by GBM and results in inhibition of anti-tumor CD8+ T cells, and that targeting TRAF3IP2 prevents GBM growth and intracranial metastasis and prolongs survival. Specific Aim 1 tests the hypothesis that targeting TRAF3IP2 alters glioblastoma immune landscape in aging to promote anti-tumor immunity. Specific Aim 2 tests the hypothesis that targeting TRAF3IP2 in GBM of aged mice is therapeutic.

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