Charles N. Serhan

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Charles Nicholas Serhan is the Simon Gelman Professor of Anaesthesia (Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology) at Harvard Medical School and a professor of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. [1] Serhan is the Director of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury at Brigham and Women's Hospital. [1]

Contents

Education

Serhan completed his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry at State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1978. [2] In 1982, Serhan earned a doctorate in Experimental Pathology and Medical Sciences from New York University School of Medicine. [2] Following his graduation, Serhan began a postdoctoral fellowship at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden under the mentorship of Bengt Samuelsson. [3] Serhan has also received honorary degrees from Harvard University, [1] University College Dublin, [4] and Queen Mary College, University of London. [5]

Career

The focus of Serhan's research are Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs), which are "inflammation-fighting molecules in the body derived from essential fatty acids". [6] While working with Mats Hamberg and Bengt Samuelsson at the Karolinska Institute, Serhan helped discover lipoxin [7] the first of the SPMs to be elucidated. [8] Since this initial discovery, Serhan has identified additional mediators including Resolvins, Maresins, and Protectins. [9]

Serhan became a faculty member at Harvard Medical School in 1987 [3] and the Director of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury at Brigham and Women's Hospital (CET&RI). [1] The CET&RI's mission is: "To identify novel mediators, pathways, and their cellular receptors and targets critical in promoting resolution of inflammation and reperfusion tissue injury and establish their relation to human disease". [10]

Awards and honors

Serhan was awarded the John Vane Medal from The William Harvey Research Institute in 2008. [11] In 2016, he received the Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine. [12] He was awarded the International Eicosanoid Research Foundation's 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award. [13] Serhan was the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) Rous-Whipple Award recipient in 2018 [14] and became an Honorary Life Member of the Society for Leukocyte Biology in 2019. [15] In 2022, Serhan delivered the Hans L. Falk Memorial Lecture at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karolinska Institute</span> Medical university located in Stockholm, Sweden

The Karolinska Institute is a research-led medical university in Solna within the Stockholm urban area of Sweden and one of the foremost medical research institutes globally. The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The assembly consists of fifty professors from various medical disciplines at the university. The current vice-chancellor of Karolinska Institute is Annika Östman Wernerson, who took office in March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arachidonic acid</span> Fatty acid used metabolically in many organisms

Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid 20:4(ω-6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). If its precursors or diet contains linoleic acid it is formed by biosynthesis and can be deposited in animal fats. It is a precursor in the formation of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengt I. Samuelsson</span> Swedish biochemist (1934–2024)

Bengt Ingemar Samuelsson was a Swedish biochemist. He shared with Sune K. Bergström and John R. Vane the 1982 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discoveries concerning prostaglandins and related substances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eicosanoid</span> Class of compounds

Eicosanoids are signaling molecules made by the enzymatic or non-enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid or other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are, similar to arachidonic acid, around 20 carbon units in length. Eicosanoids are a sub-category of oxylipins, i.e. oxidized fatty acids of diverse carbon units in length, and are distinguished from other oxylipins by their overwhelming importance as cell signaling molecules. Eicosanoids function in diverse physiological systems and pathological processes such as: mounting or inhibiting inflammation, allergy, fever and other immune responses; regulating the abortion of pregnancy and normal childbirth; contributing to the perception of pain; regulating cell growth; controlling blood pressure; and modulating the regional flow of blood to tissues. In performing these roles, eicosanoids most often act as autocrine signaling agents to impact their cells of origin or as paracrine signaling agents to impact cells in the proximity of their cells of origin. Some eicosanoids, such as prostaglandins, may also have endocrine roles as hormones to influence the function of distant cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lipoxin</span> Acronym for lipoxygenase interaction product

A lipoxin (LX or Lx), an acronym for lipoxygenase interaction product, is a bioactive autacoid metabolite of arachidonic acid made by various cell types. They are categorized as nonclassic eicosanoids and members of the specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) family of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites. Like other SPMs, LXs form during, and then act to resolve, inflammatory responses. Initially, two lipoxins were identified, lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and LXB4, but more recent studies have identified epimers of these two LXs: the epi-lipoxins, 15-epi-LXA4 and 15-epi-LXB4 respectively.

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Most of the eicosanoid receptors are integral membrane protein G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that bind and respond to eicosanoid signaling molecules. Eicosanoids are rapidly metabolized to inactive products and therefore are short-lived. Accordingly, the eicosanoid-receptor interaction is typically limited to a local interaction: cells, upon stimulation, metabolize arachidonic acid to an eicosanoid which then binds cognate receptors on either its parent cell or on nearby cells to trigger functional responses within a restricted tissue area, e.g. an inflammatory response to an invading pathogen. In some cases, however, the synthesized eicosanoid travels through the blood to trigger systemic or coordinated tissue responses, e.g. prostaglandin (PG) E2 released locally travels to the hypothalamus to trigger a febrile reaction. An example of a non-GPCR receptor that binds many eicosanoids is the PPAR-γ nuclear receptor.

Leukotriene A<sub>4</sub> Chemical compound

Leukotriene A4 (LTA4) is a leukotriene, and is the precursor for the productions of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ALOX15</span> Lipoxygenase found in humans

ALOX15 is, like other lipoxygenases, a seminal enzyme in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids to a wide range of physiologically and pathologically important products. ▼ Gene Function

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ALOX12</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

ALOX12, also known as arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase, 12-lipoxygenase, 12S-Lipoxygenase, 12-LOX, and 12S-LOX is a lipoxygenase-type enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ALOX12 gene which is located along with other lipoyxgenases on chromosome 17p13.3. ALOX12 is 75 kilodalton protein composed of 663 amino acids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formyl peptide receptor 2</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) located on the surface of many cell types of various animal species. The human receptor protein is encoded by the FPR2 gene and is activated to regulate cell function by binding any one of a wide variety of ligands including not only certain N-Formylmethionine-containing oligopeptides such as N-Formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) but also the polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolite of arachidonic acid, lipoxin A4 (LXA4). Because of its interaction with lipoxin A4, FPR2 is also commonly named the ALX/FPR2 or just ALX receptor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclooxygenase-1</span> Enzyme

Cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), also known as prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PTGS1 gene. In humans it is one of two cyclooxygenases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GPR32</span> Human biochemical receptor

G protein-coupled receptor 32, also known as GPR32 or the RvD1 receptor, is a human receptor (biochemistry) belonging to the rhodopsin-like subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Göran K. Hansson</span> Swedish physician and scientist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maresin</span> Chemical compound

Maresin 1 (MaR1 or 7R,14S-dihydroxy-4Z,8E,10E,12Z,16Z,19Z-docosahexaenoic acid) is a macrophage-derived mediator of inflammation resolution coined from macrophage mediator in resolving inflammation. Maresin 1, and more recently defined maresins, are 12-lipoxygenase-derived metabolites of the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), that possess potent anti-inflammatory, pro-resolving, protective, and pro-healing properties similar to a variety of other members of the specialized proresolving mediators (SPM) class of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites. SPM are dihydroxy, trihydroxy, and epoxy-hydroxy metabolites of long chain PUFA made by certain dioxygenase enzymes viz., cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases. In addition to the maresins, this class of mediators includes: the 15-lipoxygenase (i.e. ALOX15 and/or possibly ALOX15B)-derived lipoxin A4 and B4 metabolites of the omega 6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid; the cyclooxygenase 2-derived resolvin E series metabolites of the omega 3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid; certain 15-lipoxygenase-derived resolvin D series metabolites of DHA; certain other 15-lipoxygenase-derived protectin D1 and related metabolites of DHA; and the more recently defined and therefore less fully studied 15-lipoxygenase-derived resolvin Dn-3DPA metabolites of the omega-3 fatty acid n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA or clupanodonic acid), the cyclooxygenase 2-derived resolvin T metabolites of this clupanodonic acid, and the 15-lipoxygenase-derived products of the N-acetylated fatty acid amide of the DHA metabolite, docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide.

Specialized pro-resolving mediators are a large and growing class of cell signaling molecules formed in cells by the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) by one or a combination of lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase enzymes. Pre-clinical studies, primarily in animal models and human tissues, implicate SPM in orchestrating the resolution of inflammation. Prominent members include the resolvins and protectins.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Prof. Charles Serhan, PhD, Research - Brigham and Women's Hospital". www.brighamandwomens.org. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  2. 1 2 "Charles Serhan | Harvard Medical School - Academia.edu". hms-harvard.academia.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  3. 1 2 "Charles N. Serhan, Ph.D." www.science.org. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  4. ↑ "Charles Serhan - UCD President's Office". www.ucd.ie. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  5. ↑ "Fellows - Queen Mary University of London". www.qmul.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  6. ↑ Communication, Brigham Office of Strategic (2021-03-11). "Your Food, Your Genes, and COVID-19: Q&A with Charles N. Serhan". Brigham Clinical & Research News. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  7. ↑ Serhan, C N; Hamberg, M; Samuelsson, B (1984). "Lipoxins: novel series of biologically active compounds formed from arachidonic acid in human leukocytes". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 81 (17): 5335–5339. Bibcode:1984PNAS...81.5335S. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.17.5335 . PMC   391698 . PMID   6089195.
  8. ↑ "The end of inflammation? New approach could treat dozens of diseases". National Geographic. 2022-03-04. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  9. ↑ Research Features (2017-06-19). "Lipid mediators put an end to inflammation". Research Features. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  10. ↑ "Serhan Lab – Brigham and Women's Hospital" . Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  11. ↑ "Award Winners - The William Harvey Research Institute - Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry". www.qmul.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  12. ↑ Gentile, Marie (2016-06-02). "Inflammation Researcher to Receive 2016 Ross Prize". The New York Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  13. ↑ "ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation and Related Diseases" . Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  14. ↑ "Dr. Charles N. Serhan Receives the ASIP 2018 Rous-Whipple Award". www.newswise.com. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  15. ↑ "Honorary Life Members". www.leukocytebiology.org. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  16. ↑ "Falk Memorial Lecture focuses on how inflammation ends (Environmental Factor, April 2022)". National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
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