Targeting Ischemia/Reperfusion Stress to Inhibit Cytomegalovirus Reactivation After Lung Transplant

Reactivation of latent Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains an important clinical complication following transplantation, particularly in lung transplantation. Recent studies using a clinical relevant mouse model strongly suggest that cell stress mediated by ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) associated with implantation of the graft is sufficient and necessary to initiate transcriptional reactivation of latent CMV. The goal for this proposal is to understand how reactivation of MCMV is triggered following transplant surgery and to identify specific molecule pathways and cell types that are responsible for the reactivation and dissemination of CMV to other organs. These studies may lead to development of therapeutic strategies to prevent reactivation and subsequent dissemination of CMV with a focus on targeting ischemia/reperfusion mediated cellular stress pathways associated with organ transplantation.