Anjan Kowluru, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Veteran Administration senior research career scientist, is the principal investigator (PI) on two grants which were recently approved for funding from national organizations.

Dr. Kowluru along with principal investigator Renu Kowluru, PhD, professor of Ophthalmology, Anatomy/Cell Biology and Endocrinology, School of Medicine, and Kresge Eye Institute member, received notification from the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, that their application "NADPH Oxidase, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Diabetic Retinopathy" is being funded. This four-year [multi-PI] award begins in April and provides $1.5 million in funding through February 2016.

This award provides support to extend preliminary discoveries that hyperglycemia activates the Rac1/Nox2 signaling axis in the retina and its capillary cells prior to mitochondrial dysregulation, and that Nox2 activation represents an early event in diabetes-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell apoptosis. They will pursue their hypothesis that Nox2-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage retinal mitochondria leading to their dysfunction, accelerate apoptosis of capillary cells, and cause the development of diabetic retinopathy. The Kowlurus will explore why lipotoxic conditions promote retinopathy, and whether inhibition of Nox2 can attenuate mitochondrial damage and retinopathy. In working to demonstrate the role of Rac-1-mediated Nox2 derived ROS as the 'initiator' of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of retinopathy, they expect to reveal novel targets for therapies to prevent retinopathy in early stages, and offer patients additional therapeutic means to prevent or retard this sight threatening complication of diabetes.

In addition, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is funding the application of Dr. Anjan Kowluru entitled "Tiam1-Rac1 Signaling Axis Mediates Beta Cell Dysfunction in Type 1 Diabetes." The award, which is effective August 2012, provides $110,000 in research funding over one year.

This study focuses on the mechanisms underlying the dysfunction and death of insulin-producing beta cells in diabetes. Their team is pursuing an innovative hypothesis that inhibition of a signaling axis linking Tiam1, Rac1, and Nox2 will prevent cytokine-mediated damage to islets in a model for Type 1 diabetes involving cells from non-obese diabetic mice. These studies have high significant impact as they seek to identify novel therapeutic targets for the prevention of cytokine-mediated damage to beta cells. The long-term objective is to develop specific therapeutic modalities to prevent the development and onset of Type 1 diabetes.

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, one of the founding colleges of Wayne State University, is committed to advancing the health and well-being of society through the preparation of highly skilled health care practitioners, and through research to improve health care practices and treatment from urban to global levels.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

Date: March 21, 2012
Contact: Kathleen J. Karas, APR
Phone: 313-577-2312
Email: kkaras@wayne.edu