Innate immunity and response to oxidative stress in the airway epithelium

The airway epithelium provides the first line of innate immune protection to defend against environmental stressors and infections. A decline in airway epithelial innate immune system functionality is associated with many medical conditions and can result in chronic inflammation and compromised immunity of the lung. Oxidative stress can be generated by environmental exposure. Increase in oxidative stress cause airway and lung damage, which may initiate or worsen respiratory disease. Redox regulation maintains the equilibrium of pro-oxidant/anti-oxidant reactions but can be disturbed by environmental exposures. How this impacts on respiratory disease and whether anti-oxidants can provide protection is unknown.

This project aims to investigate the innate immune responses in environmental exposure; how the airway epithelium response to oxidative stress; and examine the utility of antioxidants to restore redox homeostasis.