Hoffman Translational Research

The Hoffman lab is performing translational research to develop drugs for treating disease involving fibrosis (when tissues become stiff and stop functioning properly). Our work is based on studies of the protein caveolin-1 that we have been working on since 2005. We showed that caveolin-1 can block the progression of fibrosis in multiple organs through its effects on collagen overproduction, inflammation, and microvascular leakage. In particular, treating cells or mice with a peptide called CSD from the active site of caveolin-1 compensates for the loss of caveolin-1 in multiple cell types that occurs in fibrotic disease.

In order to develop CSD as a drug for treating patients, we have modified its structure in order to improve its pharmacological properties. The improved version of CSD is smaller, water-soluble, more easily taken up by cells, and protected from proteolysis. These drug development studies have been highly successful leading to NIH funding for studies on lung fibrosis, skin fibrosis, heart failure, and kidney failure.

Publications:

PubMed Collection