Profiles

Graduate Education

• M.Sc. Biochemistry, Karnatak University, India
• Ph.D. Biochemistry, Karnatak University, India

Postdoctoral Education

• The City College of New York, Biochemistry, New York, NY
• Nathan Kline Institute, an affiliate of NYU, New York
• The Ohio State University, Pharmacology, Columbus, OH

Lab Location

Lewis Hall, Rooms 2012, 2008

Research Interests

I am interested in understanding the injury-repair process and immune responses involved in respiratory diseases. My research is currently focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in lung epithelial injury repair and pulmonary fibrosis. My research findings highlighted the importance of tripartite motif family protein (TRIM) 72, in the innate immunity of the lung. Also, my studies demonstrated that TRIM72 is a critical component of acute plasma membrane repair of alveolar epithelial cells in ARDS. Another research finding using a mouse model showed that inhaled recombinant TRIM72 accumulates in the injured lungs and protects the lung tissue from ventilator injury. Currently, we are exploring the role and mechanism of action of TRIM72 in repairing alveolar epithelial cells thereby limiting epithelial cell loss and pulmonary fibrosis.

Another key research focus is to examine the role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating lung immunity and inflammation. Currently, we are working to explore the role of cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2R) as a potent regulator of immune responses in the lung. Our research findings demonstrated that CB2R activation attenuates bacterial pneumonia-induced lung injury. Currently, we are exploring the potential of CB2R activation in regulating vesicant-induced lung injury.

Keywords: lung injury repair, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, cell membrane repair, the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors

Relevant Publicaitions

• Nagre N, Nicholson G, Cong X, Lockett J, Pearson AC, Chan V, Kim WK, Vinod KY, Catravas JD. Activation of cannabinoid-2 receptor protects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced acute lung injury and inflammation. Respir Res. 2022 Dec 3;23(1):326. doi: 10.1186/s12931-022-02253-w. (Corresponding author)
• Cong X, Nagre N, Herrera J, Pearson AC, Pepper I, Morehouse R, Ji H, Jiang D, Hubmayr RD, Zhao X. TRIM72 promotes alveolar epithelial cell membrane repair and ameliorates lung fibrosis. Respir Biol. 2020 (accepted for publication) (Co-corresponding author)
• Nagre N, Cong X, Pearson AC, and Zhao X. Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytosis and Bacteria Clearance in Mice. J Vis Exp. 2019 Mar 2;(145). doi: 10.3791/59088 (Co-corresponding author)
• Nagre N, Cong X, Ji HL, Schreiber JM, Fu H, Pepper I, Warren S, Sill JM, Hubmayr RD, Zhao X. Inhaled TRIM72 Protein Protects Ventilation Injury to the Lung through Injury-guided Cell Repair. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2018 Nov;59(5):635-647 (Cover page article)
• Nagre N, Cong X, Terrazas C, Pepper I, Schreiber JM, Fu H, Sill JM, Christman JW, Satoskar AR, Zhao X. Inhibition of Macrophage Complement Receptor CRIg by TRIM72 Plarizes Innate Immunity of the Lung. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2018 Jun;58(6):756-766
• Subbanna S, Nagre NN, Shivakumar M, Joshi V, Psychoyos D, Kutlar A, Umapathy NS, Basavarajappa BS. CB1R-Mediated Activation of Caspase-3 Causes Epigenetic and Neurobehavioral Abnormalities in Postnatal Ethanol-Exposed Mice. Front Mol Neurosci. 2018 Feb 20; 11:45.

Publication List