Keywords

Allergy, Asthma, Severe Asthma, LMAN1, Fungi

Abstract

Current biologics often fail to effectively manage symptoms in severe allergic asthmatic patients, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. Our laboratory has recently identified Lectin Mannose Binding 1 (LMAN1) as a regulatory cell surface receptor for house dust mite (HDM). Binding of LMAN1 to HDM allergens was found to depend on mannosylation, suggesting a potential broader role of this receptor in the recognition of other highly mannosylated allergens such as molds. Alternaria alternata (A. alternata) is a ubiquitous mold often associated with severe asthma. Whether LMAN1 can also act to regulate responses to A. alternata, remains to be explored. To this end, we subjected both WT and LMAN1 knockout mice to an A. alternata-induced asthma model. The absence of LMAN1 resulted in a substantial increase in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Interestingly, changes in AHR did not correlate with either eosinophil or neutrophil infiltration into the lung but instead, went hand in hand with a reduction in alveolar macrophages and an increase in type-2 innate lymphoid cells. Work is currently ongoing to further investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these findings. This discovery highlights LMAN1 as a promising target for innovative therapeutic interventions.

Completion Date

2024

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Tigno-Aranjuez, Justine

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Medicine

Department

Biotechnology

Degree Program

Biotechnology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

DP0028578

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0028578

Language

English

Release Date

8-15-2027

Length of Campus-only Access

3 years

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Campus-only Access)

Accessibility Status

Meets minimum standards for ETDs/HUTs

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Restricted to the UCF community until 8-15-2027; it will then be open access.

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