Research Interests
Dr. Lau's research spans both basic research and translational research highlighted below:
Basic Research:
(i) Mechanisms of chemical-induced nephrotoxicity and nephrocarcinogenicity: Dr. Lau is characterizing the molecular mechanisms of chemical-induced nephrocarcinogenesis in the Eker rat, which carries a mutation in the tuberous sclerosis (Tsc-2) tumor suppressor gene. The Tsc-2 tumor suppressor gene encodes the protein tuberin, a multi-functional protein with sequence homology to the GTPase activating protein for Rap1. Mutations in the Tsc-2 gene are associated with the development of renal tumors. Genetic and proteomic analysis of tumor tissue from the Eker rat model is being compared to human renal tumor tissue to determine the extent to which the animal model recapitulates the human disease.
(ii) Retinoid-mediated cytoprotection against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced tissue injury: Dr. Lau has demonstrated that All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) provides cytoprotection against ROS-induced renal injury via mechanisms similar to ischemia preconditioning. Progressing from an in vitro cell model to an in vivo model of chemical- and ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which ATRA mediated cytoprotection are elucidated. This knowledge will provide insights into novel therapeutic strategies effective for clinical interventions during chemical- or hypoxia/ischemia-reperfusion injury.
(iii) Proteomics approaches for the identification of chemical-induced protein post-translational modifications: Proteins have long been appreciated as critical targets of environmental chemicals that produce adverse health effects. Recent developments in mass spectrometry ionization methods and instrumentation now make possible the rapid, high throughput analysis of proteins. The goals are to test two hypotheses: (1) topological, chemical, and physical features combine to determine which proteins are targets for chemical adduction, and (2) chemical-induced posttranslational modification of certain, critical proteins, causes a change in structure/function that contributes to the toxicological response to chemical exposure.
Translational Research:
(i) Proteomics approaches for biomarker discovery for diseases such as diabetes, asthma and cancer:
(a) Environmental exposures, particularly at critical developmental windows in early life, can profoundly affect the phenotypes associated with complex diseases such as allergic asthma. Longitudinal population studies have consistently shown that early life, and possibly even prenatal exposure to certain domestic animals (e.g., indoor dogs) is associated with strong protection against asthma and asthma-related phenotypes (allergy, eczema) later in life. The overall goal of the project is to use proteomic methodologies to identify and characterize plasma proteomic signatures of early life dog exposure. This study will utilize samples and data from the Infant Immune Study (PIs Drs. Anne Wright and Marilyn Halonen), which enrolled at birth a large population of healthy children, and is still following them 8 years later, gathering detailed phenotypic information about immunological parameters, allergic sensitization and lung function. Funded by an ARRA grant Dr. Lau collaborates with Drs. Vercelli, Billheimer, and Halonen to study ”Proteomic signatures of an early life asthma-protective exposure.”
(b) Proteomic and Metabolomic Biomarker Investigation of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D): Dr. Lau initiated a collaborative project between investigators of UA-BIO5 and ASU-Biodesign. The team makes use of proteomics approaches to differentially profile the protein complements of healthy and diseased samples to identify novel biomarkers for diabetes. Progress has been made in examining glyco-oxidative stress and susceptibility to T2D complications. Studies focus on global qualitative and quantitative measurement of serum protein modifications by a reactive oxidative product of glucose, methylglyoxal in normal subjects and T2D patients.
(c) Mass Spectrometry (MS) Tissue Imaging and Global Protein Profiling: Since 2004 Dr. Lau has invested effort into the development of mass spectrometry-based tissue imaging. Results illustrate the application of matrix assisted laser desorption ionization MS-based tissue imaging to the discovery of stage-specific tumor markers. The development of mass spectrometry-based tissue imaging led to collaborations with investigators at Ventana/Roche; Bruker Daltonics Inc. and Arizona Cancer Center. The long-term strategy is to apply MS-imaging technologies to perform simultaneous detection/quantitation of drugs and drug-modulated protein profiles in frozen human tissues. This multiplexing approach can potentially provide molecular diagnosis and therapeutic intervention in cancer.
