Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology  http://www.gbs.uab.edu  http://www.uab.edu/graduate  Back to Main

Faculty Detail    
Name AMIT GAGGAR
  
Campus Address THT 422
Phone  (205) 934-4304
E-mail  agaggar@uab.edu
Other websites
     


Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Med - Pulmonary/Allergy/Critical Care  Med - Pulmonary/Allergy/Critical Care Professor
Secondary  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology Associate Professor
Center    Professor
Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center Professor
Center  Med - Cardiovascular Disease  Ctr Cardiovasc Bio (Org Ret) Professor
Center  Cystic Fibrosis Research Center  Cystic Fibrosis Research Center Professor
Center  Med - Pulmonary/Allergy/Critical Care  Lung Health Center Professor
Center  UAB Immunology Institute  UAB Immunology Institute Professor

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology 

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 
Gaggar A, Jackson PL, Noerager BD, O'Reilly PJ, McQuaid DB, Rowe SM, Clancy JP, Blalock JE.
A novel proteolytic cascade generates an extracellular matrix-derived chemoattractant in chronic neutrophilic inflammation.
J Immunol. 2008 Apr 15;180(8):5662-9.  		 18390751  
O'Reilly PJ, Gaggar A, Blalock JE.
Interfering with extracellular matrix degradation to blunt inflammation.
Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2008 Mar 15 		 18346936 
Benos DJ, Bashari E, Chaves JM, Gaggar A, Kapoor N, LaFrance M, Mans R, Mayhew D, McGowan S, Polter A, Qadri Y, Sarfare S, Schultz K, Splittgerber R, Stephenson J, Tower C, Walton RG, Zotov A.
The ups and downs of peer review.
Adv Physiol Educ. 2007 Jun;31(2):145-52.  		 17562902 
Amit Gaggar, Yao Li, Nathaniel Weathington, Margaret Winkler, Michele Kong, Patricia Jackson, J. E. Blalock, J. P. Clancy
Matrix metalloprotease-9 dysregulation in lower airway secretions of cystic fibrosis patients.Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2007 Jul;293(1):L96-L104. 		 17384080 
Meenakshi Malik, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi, Kathleen McCabe, Sally V. Catlett, Aaloki Shah, Rajendra Singh, Patricia L. Jackson, Amit Gaggar, Dennis W. Metzger, J. Andres Melendez, J. Edwin Blalock and Timothy J. Sellati
Matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity enhances host susceptibility to pulmonary infection with type A and B strains of Francisella tularensis.J Immunol. 2007 Jan 15;178(2):1013-20 		 17202364 
Amit Gaggar and Mitchell A. Olman
Biologic markers of mortality in acute lung injury.Clin Chim Acta. 2006 Oct;372(1-2):24-32. 		 16797514 
Houser GH, Holt CL, Clancy JP, Leon K, Rowe SM, Gaggar A, Gutierrez HH, Young KR, Robin NH. Genetic and reproductive knowledge among adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis. Chest Jun;133(6):1533, 2008.   
 

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