Research
CYP1 inhibition protects against anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity
We identified a potent small molecule that protects against doxorubicin-induced heart dysfunction in zebrafish and mice. Using chemical and genetic approaches, we found that inhibition of cytochrome P450 family 1 enzymes is critical to the protective activity of these compounds.
Inhibition of Cyp1a Protects Mice against Anthracycline Cardiomyopathy
Liu J, Curtin C, Lall R, Lane S, Wieke J, Ariza A, Sejour L, Vlachos I, Zordoky BN, Peterson RT, Asnani A. bioRxiv (preprint).
Cyp1 Inhibition Prevents Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy in a Zebrafish Heart-Failure Model
Lam PY, Kutchukian P, Anand R, Imbriglio J, Andrews C, Padilla H, Vohra A, Lane S, Parker DL Jr, Cornella Taracido I, Johns DG, Beerens M, MacRae C, Caldwell JP, Sorota S, Asnani A, Peterson RT. ChemBioChem 2020 Jul 1;21(13):1905-1910.
Highly Potent Visnagin Derivatives Inhibit Cyp1 and Prevent Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity
Asnani A, Zheng B, Liu Y, Wang Y, Chen HH, Vohra A, Chi A, Cornella Taracido I, Wang H, Johns DG, Sosnovik DE, Peterson RT. JCI Insight 2018 Jan 11;3(1):e96753.
Liu Y, Asnani A, Zou L, Bentley VL, Yu M, Wang Y, Dellaire G, Sarkar KS, Dai M, Chen HH, Sosnovik DE, Shin JT, Haber DA, Berman JN, Chao W, Peterson RT. Science Translational Medicine 2014 Dec 10;6(266):266ra170.
Heme signaling and immune mechanisms in cardiomyopathy
We found that changes in the heme-binding protein hemopexin were associated with early cardiac toxicity in patients and in mice treated with anthracyclines. In mice, hemopexin protects against cardiac toxicity by modulating the monocyte/macrophage response and cardiac ferroptosis. In collaboration with the Kim lab, we defined the role of hemopexin and associated pathways in sickle cell cardiomyopathy. In collaboration with the Alcaide lab, we identified a role for cytotoxic T cells in doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction.
Cytotoxic T cells drive doxorubicin-induced cardiac fibrosis and systolic dysfunction
Bayer AL, Zambrano MA, Smolgovsky S, Robbe ZL, Ariza A, Kaur K, Sawden M, Avery A, London C, Asnani A, Alcaide P. Nature Cardiovascular Research 2024;3:970-986.
Menon AV, Liu J, Tsai HP, Zeng L, Yang S, Asnani A, Kim J. Blood 2022 Feb 10; 139(6):936-941.
Circulating hemopexin modulates anthracycline cardiac toxicity in patients and in mice
Liu J, Lane S, Lall R, Russo R, Farrell L, Coskun MD, Curtin C, Araujo-Gutierrez R, Scherrer-Crosbie M, Trachtenberg BH, Kim J, Tolosano E, Ghigo A, Gerszten RE, Asnani A. Science Advances 2022 Dec 23;8(51):eadc9245.
Improving cardiac risk stratification in patients receiving anthracyclines
Our work has identified new clinical, blood, and ECG biomarkers associated with the development of early cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in patients treated with anthracyclines.
Hoeger CW, Choudhary A, Diaz ANR, Pinto T, Smalec S, Doladille C, Wadhera R, Shea M, Khadke S, Salem JE, Ganatra S, Asnani A. Cardiooncology. 2025 Jul 2;11(1):59.
Cancer therapy-associated cardiotoxicity: A look at frailty
Hanlon E, Rosas Diaz AN, Sedrak M, Strom JB, Asnani A. Journal of Geriatric Oncology 2024 Jul 23:101835.
Sex Differences in the Development of Anthracycline-Associated Heart Failure
Rosas Diaz AN, Pajares Hurtado G, Ariza Manzano AA, Keyes MJ, Turissini C, Choudhary A, Curtin C, Dommaraju S, Warack S, Strom JB, Asnani A. Journal of Cardiac Failure 2023.
Rosas Diaz AN, Stabenau HF, Hurtado GP, Warack S, Waks JW, Asnani A. JACC: Advances 2023 March 1; 2(2):100269
Asnani A, Shi X, Farrell L, Lall R, Sebag IA, Plana JC, Gerszten RE, Scherrer-Crosbie M. J Card Trans Res 2020;13:349-356.
Mechanisms of SERD-induced bradycardia
Selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) are emerging therapies for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, but some agents have been associated with bradycardia in clinical trials. Using chemical biology and genetic approaches in a zebrafish model of SERD-induced bradycardia, we found that SERD-associated bradycardia is mediated through Esr1 signaling, supporting an on-target adverse effect.
- Basu S, Rosas Diaz AN, Narvaez-Paliza JM, Curtin C, Kurella S, Urias M, More Verde L, Patel JM, Asnani A. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2026 Feb;11(2):101454. doi: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2025.101454. Epub 2026 Jan 9.