This $613,934 Project Grant award, granted on July 19, 2024 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research (CFDA 93.837) program, supports research at North Dakota State University (NDSU) to investigate the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling in airway smooth muscle (ASM) and its impact on inflammation and remodeling in asthma. The key objectives are to: 1) determine the mechanisms of AhR expression and regulation in human ASM in the context of airway inflammation and asthma, 2) elucidate the role of AhR signaling in ASM proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix production relevant to airway remodeling, and 3) assess the in vivo importance of ASM-specific AhR signaling in airway remodeling using a chronic allergen mouse model of asthma. The findings from this research are expected to establish a protective role for AhR activation in ASM, potentially leading to new therapeutic approaches to alleviate remodeling in asthma.
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