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Email

antonyr@bcm.edu

Positions

Associate Professor

Medicine
Immunology, Allergy & Rheumatology
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Houston, TX US

Graduate Faculty Member

Immunology & Microbiology
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Graduate Faculty Member

Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics
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Core Faculty

Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID)
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
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Houston, Texas United States

Addresses

Main Office (Office)

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Room: N903.02 Alkek
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-2664

Education

PhD from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Houston, Texas United States

Genetics, Development, Programmed Cell Death

Postdoctoral Fellowship at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Cambridge, United Kingdom

microRNAs, Immunology, Stem cells, Genomics

Professional Interests

• microRNA regulation of COPD and IPF
• lung repair and regeneration
• inflammation mediated lung injury
• let-7 Stem Cell Circuits in Lung Disease

Professional Statement

The lab focuses on microRNA-mediated posttranscriptional mechanisms in lung physiology and tissue repair following injury. We are particularly focused on how hijacking of microRNA pathways contribute to epithelial stem cell dysfunction in pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). COPD and ILD are serious disorders associated with irreversible damage to the lung and chronic inflammation. microRNA biology offers an innovative opportunity for interventions in these challenging diseases. Our research found that miRNA post-transcriptional signals and mechanisms are pivotal in lung stem cell dynamics, immune cell inflammation in COPD and ILD.

We and others have shown reduced expression of the let-7 miRNA family in human tissues and pre-clinical models of COPD and ILD. The let-7 miRNA family is an ancient and critically important gene associated with diseases such as cancer and organ fibrosis.

In the immune system, we recently demonstrated that let-7 directly controls RORγt expression which leads to excessive formation of IL17+ CD8+ T cells (Tc17), which sensitizes lungs of mice to injury and tissue destruction in COPD.

Within pulmonary alveolar type II (AT2) progenitor stem cells, we found that let-7 governs a maladaptive “cancer-like” molecular epigenomic program associated with an enhanced stem cell activation state which promotes lung injury, immune cell inflammation, fibrosis, and ILD.

Our lab utilizes unique animal models together with 3D organoid lung epithelial stem cell cultures to identify key regulatory mechanisms of microRNAs. We further make use of innovative techniques such as chimeric AGO2-eCLIP, scRNA-seq, and CUT&RUN.

Our work offers novel therapeutic strategies that can be used to treat severe lung diseases.

Websites

Selected Publications

• Nam JW, Rissland OS, Koppstein D, Abreu-Goodger C, Jan CH, Agarwal V, Yildirim MA, Rodriguez A, Bartel DP "." Mol Cell. 2014 Mar 20; Pubmed PMID:
• Erice PA , Huang X , Seasock MJ , Robertson MJ , Tung H-Y, Perez-Negron MA, Lotlikar SL, Corry DB, Kheradmand F, Rodriguez A "." Elife. 2024; Pubmed PMID:
• Seasock MJ, Shafiquzzaman M, Ruiz-Echartea M, Kanchi R, Tran B, Simon L, Meyer M, Erice P, Lotlikar S, Wenlock S, Ochsner S, Enright A, Carisey A, Romero F, Rosas I, King K, McKenna N, Coarfa C, Rodriguez A "." BioRxiv. 2024 May; Pubmed PMID:
• Morales-Mantilla DE; Xinyan Huang; Erice P; Porter P; Yun ZHANG; Mary Figueroa; Chandra J; Katherine King; Kheradmand F; Antony Rodriguez "." JoVE. 2022 Oct; Pubmed PMID:

Funding

Mechanism and Function of let-7, a Novel Modulator of Emphysema - #1R0-1HL140398

(09/01/2018 - 08/31/2023) Grant funding from NIH (NHLBI)

PI

Delineating the Role and let-7 microRNA on Lung AT2 Cell Homeostasis, Alveolar Regeneration, and Interstitial Lung Disease - #1R01-HL167814

(04/03/2023 - 03/31/2028) Grant funding from NIH (NHLBI)

PI