Additional Contact Information:
James H. Quillen College of Medicine
PO Box 70577
Carl A Jones Hall (VA Bldg 119)
Office 164 Lab 133
Lab: 423-439-6342
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Dr. Agrawal is a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, in Johnson City, Tennessee. He received his Ph.D. from Visva Bharati University in India, and post-doctoral training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He was a research faculty in the Department of Biochemistry at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, before joining ETSU in 2002.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
1. Functions of C-reactive protein in inflammatory diseases
2. Regulation of C-reactive protein gene expression
My principal area of research is focused on the structure-function relationships of C-reactive protein (CRP) in inflammation. CRP is primarily a plasma protein, but it is also localized at the sites of inflammation in both humans and experimental animals. To define the functions of CRP in the circulation and at the inflammatory sites, we are currently working on the following three projects:
1. Functions of CRP in pneumococcal infections: In vitro, CRP binds to cell wall C-polysaccharide on Streptococcus pneumoniae and subsequently activates the complement system in serum. In murine models of infection, human CRP is protective against lethal infection with S. pneumoniae. Our long-term goal is to define the mechanisms by which CRP protects against pneumococcal infection in mice. How does CRP, directly or indirectly, act on the bacterial surfaces to kill them? We are testing the hypothesis that the activation and recruitment of the complement components on the pneumococcal surface, subsequent to the binding of CRP to pneumococci, participate in CRP-mediated protection of mice from pneumococcal infection.
2. Functions of CRP in atherosclerosis: CRP is transported from the circulation to the arterial wall and localizes with modified low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in human atherosclerotic lesions, consistent with its capability of CRP to bind to modified forms of LDL in vitro. Recently, CRP was shown to be functioning as an atheroprotective molecule in a mouse model of human atherosclerosis. The mechanism of action of CRP, however, in the uptake of modified atherogenic LDL by macrophages, in the formation of foam cells, and in the development of atherosclerosis are not known. To define the possible role of CRP-LDL interactions in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, we are investigating the role of CRP in the uptake of LDL by human macrophages to form LDL-loaded macrophage foam cells, the sites on CRP required for binding to modified forms of LDL, and the role of CRP in atherosclerotic lesions formed in mouse models of human atherosclerosis.
3. Regulation of CRP gene expression: In response to inflammatory mediators, various transcription factors are activated in the hepatocytes. Our research involves the interactions of the transcription factors with the CRP promoter to regulate CRP expression in human hepatocytes. Cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, also lower serum CRP levels. The mechanism of action of statins on lowering serum CRP levels is also unclear. Our goal is define the mechanism of regulation of serum CRP levels in normal healthy population and in individuals under statin therapy.
LABORATORY PERSONNEL
Sanjay K. Singh, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor
Juliana Barnie, Graduate Student
ACTIVE RESEARCH FUNDING
NIH R01AI151561 “Complement-mediated anti-pneumococcal functions of C-reactive protein”SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Ngwa DN, Agrawal A. Structurally altered, not wild-type, pentameric C-reactive protein inhibits formation of amyloid-b fibrils. J. Immunol. 209: 1180-1188, 2022.
Ngwa DN, Pathak A, Agrawal A. IL-6 regulates induction of C-reactive protein gene expression by activating STAT3 isoforms. Mol. Immunol. 146: 50-56, 2022.
Ngwa DN, Singh SK, Agrawal A. C-reactive protein-based strategy to reduce antibiotic dosing for the treatment of pneumococcal infection. Front. Immunol. 11: 620784, 2021.
Ngwa DN, Singh SK, Gang TB, Agrawal A. Treatment of pneumococcal infection by using engineered human C-reactive protein in a mouse model. Front. Immunol. 11: 586669, 2020.
Singh SK, Ngwa DN, Agrawal A. Complement activation by C-reactive protein is critical for protection of mice against pneumococcal infection. Front. Immunol. 11: 1812, 2020.
Pathak A, Singh SK, Thewke DP, Agrawal A. Conformationally altered C-reactive protein capable of binding to atherogenic lipoproteins reduces atherosclerosis. Front. Immunol. 11: 1780, 2020.
Singh SK, Thirumalai A, Pathak A, Ngwa DN, Agrawal A. Functional transformation of C-reactive protein by hydrogen peroxide. J. Biol. Chem. 292: 3129-3136, 2017.
Singh SK, Thirumalai A, Pathak A, Ngwa DN, Agrawal A. Functional transformation of C-reactive protein by hydrogen peroxide. J. Biol. Chem. 292: 3129-3136, 2017.
Gang TB, Hanley GA, Agrawal A. C-reactive protein protects mice against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection via both phosphocholine-dependent and phosphocholine-independent mechanisms. Infect. Immun. 83: 1845-1852, 2015.
Gang TB, Hammond DJ Jr, Singh SK, Ferguson DA Jr, Mishra VK, Agrawal A. The phosphocholine-binding pocket on C-reactive protein is necessary for initial protection of mice against pneumococcal infection. J. Biol. Chem. 287: 43116-43125, 2012.