# Elucidation of a Eukaryotic Chemorepulsion Mechanism

> **NIH NIH R35** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $364,693

## Abstract

The directed movement of eukaryotic cells away from a source of a chemorepellent appears to play a
major role in development and the resolution of inflammation, but very little is known about eukaryotic
chemorepellents and how they direct cell motility. Chemorepulsion of Dictyostelium cells from a secreted
protein called AprA is a model where one can combine biochemistry and genetics to elucidate chemorepulsion.
Using available mutants and a preliminary genetic screen, we identified the AprA receptor, identified several
components of the AprA signal transduction pathway, and found that AprA chemorepulsion involves a
fundamentally different mechanism from chemoattraction.
 AprA has predicted structural similarity to the human secreted protein dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV),
and shares functional properties with DPPIV. We found that DPPIV is a chemorepellent for human and mouse
neutrophils, found that the G protein-coupled receptor PAR2 mediates DPPIV chemorepulsion, and found that
small molecule PAR2 agonists act as neutrophil chemorepellents. Preliminary studies indicate that there are
strong similarities between the AprA and PAR2 agonist chemorepulsion mechanisms.
 Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an untreatable disease involving damage to the lungs
causing neutrophils to enter the lungs. The neutrophils further damage the lungs, causing more neutrophil
entry in a positive feedback loop, and this results in the death of ~40% of the ~200,000 ARDS patients per year
in the US. An exciting insight into a possible therapeutic approach is that when DPPIV or PAR2 agonists are
aspirated into the lungs, they induce neutrophils to leave the lungs in two mouse models of ARDS. The key
roadblock to moving this into the clinic is that we need to know what the PAR2 agonist chemorepulsion
mechanism is to anticipate potential drug interactions and side effects.
 To gain insights into a fundamental mechanism, and ways to induce neutrophils to leave a tissue, we
propose to elucidate the AprA and PAR2 agonist chemorepulsion mechanisms using the power of
Dictyostelium to lead the work. We will rigorously test newly identified Dictyostelium chemorepulsion pathway
components, and determine where they function in the pathway. We will complete the Dictyostelium genetic
screens to gain further insight into chemorepulsion, and then use this information to guide an examination of
possibly similar mechanisms in neutrophils. While examining human neutrophil chemorepulsion, we observed
a significant difference between male and female neutrophils, and we will delineate the extent and molecular
mechanism underlying this difference. Together, the proposed work will elucidate a poorly understood
fundamental mechanism, elucidate an unexpected sex difference in the innate immune system, and help
elucidate how PAR2 agonists could be used clinically to drive excessive neutrophils out of a tissue, with
possibly different treatments for men and women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10085519
- **Project number:** 1R35GM139486-01
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard H Gomer
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $364,693
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10085519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10085519, Elucidation of a Eukaryotic Chemorepulsion Mechanism (1R35GM139486-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10085519. Licensed CC0.

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