Bryant Lab

Dr. Bryant and another scientist conducting an experiment

About Dr. Bryant

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Andrew J. Bryant, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
andrew.bryant@medicine.ufl.edu

Research interests

Our laboratory focuses on the unique role that bone-marrow derived cells play in creating an immunotolerant microenvironment within the lung, contributing to pulmonary vascular remodeling and eventual development of high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).  Specifically, we examine the role of the following related pathways in understanding the mechanisms of lung vasculopathy:

  1. Arginine metabolism: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) inhibit the adaptive immune response in a variety of pulmonary-related diseases including cancer, tuberculosis and obstructive sleep apnea.  Recently our group has demonstrated that these cells are necessary for the development of pulmonary hypertension, as well.  One of the mechanisms they do so is through release of proteins that influence the cellular utilization of the amino acid arginine.  Broadly, we study how arginine metabolism by these cells contributes to vessel fibrosis and narrowing, leading to pulmonary hypertension.
  2. Chemokine receptor expression and activation:  Myeloid-derived cells traffic to the lungs based upon activation of cell surface receptors that coordinate the complex anti-inflammatory response to resolving pulmonary injury.  Our lab examines how proteolytic cell-specific activation of these receptors, through canonical ligand interactions, leads to accumulation of leukocytes within the lung, leading to muscularization of pulmonary vessels and elevated pressures within the lung. 
  3. Circadian core clock signaling: In our most recent set of studies we are exploring the fundamental role of circadian influence on leukocyte activation, and involvement in pulmonary hypertension secondary to fibrosis or emphysema.

Lab Faculty and Staff

Associate Professor of Medicine

Andrew Bryant

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Biological Scientist

Chunhua Fu

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Laboratory Technician

Laylo Mukhsinova

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Post-Doctoral Fellow

Aline Oliveira

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Graduate Assistant

Ann Pham

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graduate assistant

Elnaz Ebrahimi

Elnaz Ebrahimi

laboratory technician i

Jimena Alvarez-Castanon

Jimena

Laboratory Technician I

Omar Alneser

unavailable

Research Support

Ongoing

  • PH Accelerated Bayer (PHAB) Bryant (PI) 07/01/2020 – 06/30/2022 – Bayer Foundation “Myeloid cell senescence in the development of pulmonary hypertension”
  • R01HL142776 Bryant (PI) 08/01/2019 – 07/31/2024 NIH R01 – NHLBI “Role of CXCR2-mediated cell trafficking in pulmonary vascular remodeling”
  • KHL144085A Bryant (PI) 07/01/2018 – 06/30/2023 NIH K08 – NHLBI “Role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis”
  • R01HL142776 08/01/2019 – 07/31/2024 NIH R01 – NHLBI “Role of CXCR2-mediated cell trafficking in pulmonary vascular remodeling” 
  • R01HL142887 04/05/2020 – 03/31/2025 NIH R01 – NHLBI “Role of ADAM17 in MDSC-mediated development of pulmonary hypertension” 
  • Bayer 07/01/2020 – 06/30/2022 Pulmonary Hypertension Accelerated Bayer Awards “Myeloid cell senescence in the development of pulmonary hypertension” 

Completed

  • University of Florida Clinical and Translational Science Institute,“Vascular Hypoxic Signaling Regulation of Pulmonary Hypertension,” Pearson (P1), 01/16/2016-12/01/2017.
    Gilead Sciences Research Scholars Program in Pulmonary Hypertension“Role of myeloid-derived suppressor cell trafficking in development of pulmonary hypertension,” Bryant (PI), 01/17/2017-12/31/2018.
  • American Lung Association — Biomedical Research Grant, “Role of CXCR2-mediated cell trafficking in pulmonary hypertension,” Bryant (PI), 07/01/2017-06/30/2018.
    Institutional Start-Up Funds. University of Florida College of Medicine, Gatorade Fund, Bryant (PI), 07/01/2014- 06/30/2018.
  • Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Program, Bryant (PI) 01/31/2017-01/31/2019.
  • University of Florida Institute on Aging, UF OAIC Pilot Award, Leeuwenburgh (PI), 08/01/2015-03/31/2016.
  • NIH/NHLBI, “Clinical and Translational Research Training Program in Pulmonary Medicine,” Bernard (PI), 041/01/2007-06/30/2014.
  • American Thoracic Society $50,000, “Hypoxia Inducible Factor Regulation of Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension,” Bryant (PI), 01/15/13-01/14/14.
  • KHL144085A 07/01/2018 – 06/30/2023* NIH K08 – NHLBI “Role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis” *Voluntarily relinquished 06/30/2020 
  • Gilead Sciences 01/17/2017 – 12/31/2018 Gilead Sciences Research Scholars Program in Pulmonary Hypertension 
  • American Lung Association 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2019 American Lung Association – Biomedical Research Grant
  • Margaret Q. Landenberger Grant 01/31/2017 – 12/31/2018 Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Program 

Other Support

  • Loan Repayment Program (LRP)  10/2015 – 10/2020 National Institute of Health (NIH) 
  • Parker B. Francis Foundation 07/2018 Parker B. Francis Fellowship Program (Research Opportunity Award) 

Publication Highlights

  • Bryant AJ, Shenoy V, Fu C, Marek G, Lorentsen KJ, Herzog EL, Brantly ML, Avram D, Scott EW.  Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are necessary for the development of pulmonary hypertension.  Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2018 Feb;58(2):170-180.
  • Pi L, Fu C, Lu Y, Zhou J, Shenoy V, Lipson KE, Scott EW, Bryant AJ. Vascular endothelial cell-specific connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is necessary for development of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.  Front Physiol. 2018 Feb 27;9:138.
  • Rathinasabapathy A, Bryant AJ, Suzuki T, Moore C, Shay S, Gladson S, West JD, Carrier EJ. rhACE2 therapy modifies bleomycin-induced pulmonary hypertension via rescue of vascular remodeling. Front Physiol. 2018 Apr 9;9:271.
  • Bryant AJ, Mehrad B, Brusko TM, West JD, Moldawer LL.  Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and pulmonary hypertension.  Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Aug 3;19(8). pii: E2277.
  • Smith LC, Moreno S, Robertson L, Robinson S, Gant K, Bryant AJ, Sabo-Attwood T. Transforming growth factor beta1 targets estrogen receptor signaling in bronchial epithelial cells. Respir Res. 2018 Aug 30;19(1):160.
  • Bryant AJ, Fu C, Lu Y, Brantly ML, Mehrad B, Moldawer LL, Brusko TM, Brittain EL, West JD, Austin ED, Hamid R.  A checkpoint on innate myeloid cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension.  Pulm Circ. 2019 Jan-Mar;9(1):2045894018823528.
  • Oliviera AC, Fu C, Lu Y, Williams MA, Pi L, Brantly ML, Ventetuolo CE, Machuca TN, Raizada MK, Scott EW, Bryant AJ.  Chemokine signaling axis between endothelial and myeloid cells regulates development of pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis and hypoxia.  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2019 Jul 31. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00156.2019.
  • PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1nOMrXCyL6CkP/bibliography/48049119/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending
  • Bryant A, de Jesus Perez V. CHK yourself, before you wreck yourself: targeting the DNA damage response in secondary pulmonary hypertension. Thorax. 2021 Aug 20:thoraxjnl-2021-217882. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-217882. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34417351.
  • Ding H, Meng L, Liu AC, Gumz ML, Bryant AJ, Mcclung CA, Tseng GC, Esser KA, Huo Z. Likelihood-based tests for detecting circadian rhythmicity and differential circadian patterns in transcriptomic applications. Brief Bioinform. 2021 Jun 12:bbab224. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbab224. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34117739.
  • Bryant A, Pham A, Gogoi H, Mitchell CR, Pais F, Jin L. EXPRESS: The Third Man: DNA sensing as espionage in pulmonary vascular health and disease. Pulmonary Circulation. February 2021. doi:10.1177/2045894021996574
  • Sharma RK, Oliveira AC, Yang T, Karas MM, Li J, Lobaton GO, Aquino VP, Robles-Vera I, de Kloet AD, Krause EG, Bryant AJ, Verma A, Li Q, Richards EM, Raizada MK. Gut Pathology and Its Rescue by ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2) in Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension. Hypertension. 2020 Jul;76(1):206-216. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.14931. Epub 2020 May 18. Erratum in: Hypertension. 2020 Nov;76(5):e40. PMID: 32418496; PMCID: PMC7505091.
  • Rajagopal K, Bryant AJ, Sahay S, Wareing N, Zhou Y, Pandit LM, Karmouty-Quintana H. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension: Heracles meets the Hydra. Br J Pharmacol. 2021 Jan;178(1):172-186. doi: 10.1111/bph.15036. Epub 2020 Apr 7. PMID: 32128790.
  • Zhou J, Sun X, Yang L, Wang L, Ran G, Wang J, Cao Q, Wu L, Bryant A, Ling C, Pi L. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α negatively regulates connective tissue growth factor during liver regeneration. FASEB J. 2020 Feb 14;. doi: 10.1096/fj.201902382R. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32057145.
  • Fu C, Lu Y, Williams MA, Brantly ML, Ventetuolo CE, Morel LM, Mehrad B, Scott EW, Bryant AJ. Emergency myelopoiesis contributes to immune cell exhaustion and pulmonary vascular remodeling [published online ahead of print, 2019 Dec 3]. Br J Pharmacol. 2019;10.1111/bph.14945. doi:10.1111/bph.14945
  • Oliviera AC, Fu C, Lu Y, Williams MA, Pi L, Brantly ML, Ventetuolo CE, Machuca TN, Raizada MK, Scott EW, Bryant AJ.Chemokine signaling axis between endothelial and myeloid cells regulates development of pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis and hypoxia.Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol.2019 Jul 31. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00156.2019.
  • Bryant AJ, Fu C, Lu Y, Brantly ML, Mehrad B, Moldawer LL, Brusko TM, Brittain EL, West JD, Austin ED,Hamid R.A checkpoint on innate myeloid cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension.Pulm Circ.2019 Jan-Mar;9(1):2045894018823528.
  • Smith LC, Moreno S, Robertson L, Robinson S, Gant K, Bryant AJ, Sabo-Attwood T. Transforming growth factor beta1 targets estrogen receptor signaling in bronchial epithelial cells.Respir Res. 2018 Aug30;19(1):160.
  • Bryant AJ, Mehrad B, Brusko TM, West JD, Moldawer LL.Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and pulmonaryhypertension.Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Aug 3;19(8). pii: E2277.
  • Rathinasabapathy A, Bryant AJ, Suzuki T, Moore C, Shay S, Gladson S, West JD, Carrier EJ.rhACE2 therapymodifies bleomycin-induced pulmonary hypertension via rescue of vascular remodeling.Front Physiol.2018 Apr 9;9:271.
  • Pi L, Fu C, Lu Y, Zhou J, Shenoy V, Lipson KE, Scott EW, Bryant AJ. Vascular endothelial cell-specificconnective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is necessary for development of chronic hypoxia-inducedpulmonary hypertension.Front Physiol. 2018 Feb 27;9:138.
  • Bryant AJ, Shenoy V, Fu C, Marek G, Lorentsen KJ, Herzog EL, Brantly ML, Avram D, Scott EW.  Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are necessary for the development of pulmonary hypertension.  Am J Respir   Cell Mol Biol. 2018 Feb;58(2):170-180.