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Faculty Detail     Name AMIT GAGGAR   Campus Address THT 422 Phone 205-975-6770 E-mail agaggar@uab.edu Other websites

Faculty Appointment(s) Appointment Type Department Division Rank Primary  Medicine  Med - Pulmonary/Allergy/Critical Care Associate Professor Secondary  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology Associate Professor Center  Cystic Fibrosis Research Center  Cystic Fibrosis Research Center Associate Professor Center  Medicine  Ctr Cardiovasc Bio Associate Professor

Biographical Sketch  Undergraduate: University of Michigan 1993-1996 Medical School: University of Michigan 1996-2000 Internal Medicine Residency: University of Alabama-Birmingham 2000-2003 Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship: University of Alabama-Birmingham 2003-2006 Lung Transplantation Fellowship: University of Alabama-Birmingham 2005-2006 Department of Physiology, PhD: University of Alabama-Birmingham 2005-2007

Society Memberships Organization Name Position Held Org Link American Assn of Immunologist  Member    American College of Chest Physicians  Member    American Thoracic Society  Member

Research/Clinical Interest Title Proteases in Cystic Fibrotic Lung Disease, Proteases in Lung Transplantation Description Our research involves examining the role of a class of enzymes, proteases, and the role they may play in the pathology of two diseases: cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--> Our group has characterized a novel neutrophil chemoattractant, generated via proteases, which may play an important role in the inflammation seen in these conditions. In addition, our group has recently characterized unique epithelial ion transport defect resulting from protease actvation and the regulation of an innate immune molecule, surfactant protein-d, by proteolytic cleavage. We are also actively involved in clinical trials related to cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Selected Publications  Publication PUBMEDID O’Reilly P, Hardison M, Jackson PL, Xu X, Snelgrove RJ, Gaggar A, Blalock JE. Neutrophils contain prolyl endopeptidase and generate the chemotactic peptide, PGP, from collagen, Journal of Neuroimmunology,Dec 10;217(1-2):51-4, 2009  19875179   O'Reilly P, Jackson PL, Noerager B, Parker S, Dransfield M, Gaggar A, Blalock JE. N-alpha-PGP and PGP: potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in COPD, Resp Research 10(38), 2009.  19450278   Wille K, Gaggar A, Hajari AS, Leon KJ, Barney JB, Smith KH, Pajaro O, Wang W, Oster RA, McGiffen DC, Young KR. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and survival following lung transplantation for patients with sarcoidosis, Sarcoidosis and Diffuse Lung Diseases 25: 117-125, 2009.  19382530   Hardison M, Galin FS, Calderon C, Jackson PL, Blalock JE, Gaggar A*. The presence of a matrix-derived neutrophil chemoattractant seen in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation, Journal of Immunology 182(7), 4423-4431, 2009.  19299743  Kong M, Gaggar A Li Y, Winkler M, Blalock JE, Clancy JP. Matrix metalloproteinase activity in pediatric acute lung injury, International Journal of Medical Sciences 6(1): 9-17, 2009  19159011  Djekic UV, Gaggar A, Weathington NM. Attaching the multi-tiered proteolytic pathology of COPD: New insights from basic and translational studies, Pharmacology and Therapeutics 121(2), 132-146, 2009.  19026684  Griese M., Gaggar A, Hartl D. Inhibition of airway neutrophil elastase in cystic fibrosis, European Respiratory Journal 32: 783-795, 2008  18757703  Koller B, Kappler M, Latzin P, Takyar S, Schreiner M, Gaggar A, Kormann M, Griese M, Hartl D. Toll-like receptor expression on neutrophils at the pulmonary site of infection – mobilization of TLR5 in cystic fibrosis lung disease, Journal of Immunology 181: 2753-2763, 2008.  18684966  Rowe SM, Jackson PL, Liu G, Hardison M, Livraghi A, Solomon GM, McQuaid DB, Noerager BD, Gaggar A, Clancy JP, O’Neal W, Sorscher EJ, Abraham EA, Blalock JE. Potential role of high mobility group box 1 in cystic fibrosis airway disease, AJRCCM 178: 822-831, 2008.  18658107  Jackson PL, Blalock JE, Gaggar A. Neutrophil chemotactic collagen fragments are generated from cystic fibrosis sputum. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008 Apr;5(3):375  18403370  First Prev   1 2 of  2  Next Last

Keywords proteases, extracellular matrix, neutrophils, inflammation, innate immunity

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