Inhibitor #2 of Protein Phosphatase 2A (I2PP2A) and Asthma

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over 24 million Americans suffer from asthma, which has become a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm together with symptoms of wheezing, coughing,shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Unlike chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, airway obstruction is usually reversible in asthma, but if left untreated, can lead to irreversible air-flow obstruction due to airway remodeling.Treating asthma patients costs over 56 billion each year and typically consists of medications including bronchodilators that relax the smooth muscles in the airways and anti-inflammatories to reduce airway inflammation. In this proposal, we are focused on a potentially novel therapy for asthma: COG-compounds that antagonize inhibitor #2 of Protein Phosphatase 2A (I2PP2A or SET) leading to reactivation of PP2A and reduction of inflammation (Christensen et al. 2011). Recent literature by Levine and co