B Paige Lawrence, Ph.D.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)
The AhR is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates many environmental signals. Its normal function in the body is unknown, but numerous exogenous chemicals bind to AhR, affecting gene expression and cell function. A major focus of our research is to delineate the mechanisms by which the AhR regulates the development and function of the immune system. To accomplish this, we often use influenza viruses, as they are common human pathogens, and because humans exposed to pollutants that bind AhR often have more respiratory illness. We often use the pollutant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) because it binds the AhR with very high affinity and causes sustained activation. This makes it a powerful research tool, as we can probe AhR-regulated pathways by exploiting the knowledge gained when they are perturbed. Also, TCDD represents a large group of highly toxic chemicals found throughout the world, and daily low-level exposure to them has been linked to impairment of the immune, reproductive, and endocrine systems. Current projects seek to understand AhR's normal role in, and how pollutants impact, the immune system and developing organs, and include the following projects:
• The role of AhR in immune response to respiratory viral infection
• The role of AhR in programming the developing immune system
• The role of the AhR in mammary gland differentiation and lactogenesis
There is now compelling evidence that developmental exposures to chemicals from our environment lead to disease later in life, and our interest in how environmental signals alter the developing immune system extends beyond AhR and dioxin. We have two additional funded projects in this area.

Neonatal oxygen supplementation and respiratory viral infection
In collaboration with Dr. Michael O'Reilly, we are studying the effects of neonatal oxygen supplementation on pulmonary immune function. Premature infants are often given high oxygen supplementation, which has substantially reduced premature infant mortality. However, even as adolescents, these infants exhibit reduced lung function and are more likely to be re-hospitalized due to respiratory viral infection. Using a mouse model, we are currently determining how neonatal high oxygen treatment disrupts the response to respiratory viral infection. Moreover, we are integrating our research findings with studies of immune responses in infected children who were born prematurely, which we hope will help us identify novel therapeutic opportunities for improving the health of children born prematurely.

Developmental immunotoxicity of bisphenol A (BPA)
BPA is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, and is one of the highest volume chemicals produced worldwide. Existing but very limited data indicate that maternal exposure adversely impacts the developing immune system, and this is a cause for concern. Yet, our current inadequate understanding of BPA's developmental immunotoxicity fetters progress toward comprehensive assessment of the human health effects of BPA. To address this we have started a new project in which we will conduct the most detailed analysis to-date of the impact of the BPA on immune system development and function in the context of animal models of human diseases, such as asthma, influenza, and inflammatory bowel disease.

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