Aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A2 (ALDH3A2) as a novel regulator of inflammation and fibrotic tissue remodeling in sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (B04)

• Subject Area: Rheumatology ; Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 324392634

Metabolic deregulation is emerging as a common pathogenic driver of chronic inflammatory as well as fibrosing diseases. We demonstrated that the inactivation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A2 (ALDH3A2) prevented fibroblast activation and ameliorated tissue remodeling in experimental sclerodermatous chronic GvHD (sclGvHD), whereas overexpression of ALDH3A2 promoted collagen release and deposition of extracellular matrix. We now aim to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ALDH3A2 on fibroblast activation in sclGvHD with a focus on metabolic changes and evaluate the effects of ALDH3A2 knockdown on leukocyte infiltration and graft-versus-leukemia reaction.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 221: Modulation of graft-versus-host and graft-versus-leukemia immune responses after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Jörg Hans Wilhelm Distler; Privatdozentin Dr. Regina Jitschin, Ph.D., since 1/2022; Dr. Bernd Spriewald, until 12/2021