Global ETD Search

101	The role of acid sphingomyelinase in autophagy Justice, Matthew Jose 11 July 2014 (has links) Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Autophagy is a conserved cellular process that involves sequestration and degradation of cytosolic contents. The cell can engulf autophagic cargo (lipids, long-lived proteins, protein aggregates, and pathogens) through a double bound membrane called an autophagosome that fuses with a lysosome where hydrolases then degrade these contents. This process is one of the main defenses against starvation and is imperative for newborns at birth. Research on this process has increased exponentially in the last decade since its discovery almost a half a century ago. It has been found that autophagy is an important process in many diseases, continues to be at the forefront of research, and is clearly not fully understood. Our preliminary cell culture data in endothelial and epithelial cells show that a blockade of the de novo ceramide synthesis pathway, during treatment with an autophagy stimulus (cigarette smoke extract exposure), does not result in any reduction in autophagy or autophagic flux. Conversely, when acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is pharmacologically inhibited, which prevents the generation of ceramide from sphingomyelin in an acidic environment, a profound increase in autophagy is observed. In this work, we hypothesize that (ASM) is an endogenous inhibitor of autophagy. ASM has two forms, a secreted form and a lysosomal form. N-terminal processing in the Golgi determines its cellular fate. In the lysosomal form, the phosphodiesterase is bound in the lysosomal membrane. The pharmacological inhibition mechanism is to release ASM from the membrane and allow other hydrolases to actively degrade the enzyme which, in turn, decreases the activity of ASM. This suggests that either the activity of ASM is a regulator of autophagy or that the presence of ASM, activity aside, is required for the lysosomal nutrient sensing machinery (LYNUS) to function properly. Here, we show that ASM is, in fact, an endogenous inhibitor of autophagy in vitro. The phosphorylation status of P70 S6k, a downstream effector of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is part of the LYNUS, shows that dissociation of ASM from the membrane regulates mTOR and disturbs the LYNUS in such a manner as to signal autophagy. Lysosomes -- Research Rapamycin Apoptosis Autophagic vacuoles Cell death Cytosol Cell physiology -- Methodology Cell cycle -- Regulation Ceramides Phospholipids Phosphorylation Endothelial cells Epithelial cells Hydrolases Endocytosis
102	Novel Roles of p21 in Apoptosis During Beta-Cell Stress in Diabetes Hernández-Carretero, Angelina M. January 2014 (has links) Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Type 2 diabetes manifests from peripheral insulin resistance and a loss of functional beta cell mass due to decreased beta cell function, survival, and/or proliferation. Beta cell stressors impair each of these factors by activating stress response mechanisms, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The glucolipotoxic environment of the diabetic milieu also activates a stress response in beta cells, resulting in death and decreased survival. Whereas the cell cycle machinery (comprised of cyclins, kinases, and inhibitors) regulates proliferation, its involvement during beta cell stress in the development of diabetes is not well understood. Interestingly, in a screen of multiple cell cycle inhibitors, p21 was dramatically upregulated in INS-1-derived 832/13 cells and rodent islets by two independent pharmacologic inducers of beta cell stress - dexamethasone and thapsigargin. In addition, glucolipotoxic stress mimicking the diabetic milieu also induced p21. To further investigate p21’s role in the beta cell, p21 was adenovirally overexpressed in 832/13 cells and rat islets. As expected given p21’s role as a cell cycle inhibitor, p21 overexpression decreased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and blocked the G1/S and G2/M transitions as quantified by flow cytometry. Interestingly, p21 overexpression activated apoptosis, demonstrated by increased annexin- and propidium iodide-double-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3 protein. p21-mediated caspase-3 cleavage was inhibited by either overexpression of the anti-apoptotic mitochondrial protein Bcl-2 or siRNA-mediated suppression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak. Therefore, the intrinsic apoptotic pathway is central for p21-mediated cell death. Like glucolipotoxicity, p21 overexpression inhibited the insulin cell survival signaling pathway while also impairing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, an index of beta cell function. Under both conditions, phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1, Akt, and Forkhead box protein-O1 was reduced. p21 overexpression increased Bim and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase, however, siRNA-mediated reduction or inhibition of either protein, respectively, did not alter p21-mediated cell death. Importantly, islets of p21-knockout mice treated with the ER stress inducer thapsigargin displayed a blunted apoptotic response. In summary, our findings indicate that p21 decreases proliferation, activates apoptosis, and impairs beta cell function, thus being a potential target to inhibit for the protection of functional beta cell mass. Diabetes obesity islet cell survival cell death apoptosis cell cycle palmitate ER stress glucolipotoxicity beta cell thapsigargin dexamethasone Diabetes -- Research Obesity -- Research Obesity -- Animal models Apoptosis Cell death -- Research Endoplasmic reticulum -- Pathophysiology Pancreatic beta cells -- Research Islands of Langerhans -- Research Cell physiology -- Research Stress (Physiology) -- Research Adrenocortical hormones Sarcoplasmic reticulum Transgenic mice -- Research
103	Pdx-1 modulates endoplasmic reticulum calcium homeostasis in the islet β cell via transcriptional enhancement of SERCA2b Johnson, Justin Sean January 2014 (has links) Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Diabetes mellitus affects an estimated 285 million people worldwide, and a central component of diabetes pathophysiology is diminished pancreatic islet beta cell function resulting in the inability to manage blood glucose effectively. The beta cell is a highly specialized metabolic factory that possesses a number of specialized characteristics, chief among these a highly developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The sarco endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2b (SERCA2b) pump maintains a steep Ca2+ gradient between the cytosol and ER lumen, and while the Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx-1) transcription factor is known to play an indispensable role in beta cell development and function, recent data also implicate Pdx-1 in the maintenance of ER health. Our data demonstrates that a decrease of beta cell Pdx-1 occurs in parallel with decreased SERCA2b expression in models of diabetes, while in silico analysis of the SERCA2b promoter reveals multiple putative Pdx-1 binding sites. We hypothesized that Pdx-1 loss under inflammatory and diabetic conditions leads to decreased SERCA2b with concomitant alterations in ER health. To test this, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Pdx-1 was performed in INS-1 cells. Results revealed reduced SERCA2b expression and decreased ER Ca2+, which was measured using an ER-targeted D4ER adenovirus and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Co-transfection of human Pdx-1 with a reporter fused to the human SERCA2 promoter increased luciferase activity three-fold relative to the empty vector control, and direct binding of Pdx-1 to the proximal SERCA2 promoter was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. To determine whether restoration of SERCA2b could rescue ER stress induced by Pdx-1 loss, Pdx1+/- mice were fed high fat diet for 8 weeks. Isolated islets from these mice demonstrated increased expression of spliced Xbp1, signifying ER stress, while subsequent SERCA2b overexpression in isolated islets reduced spliced Xbp1 levels to that of wild-type controls. These results identify SERCA2b as a direct transcriptional target of Pdx-1 and define a novel role for altered ER Ca2+ regulation in Pdx-1 deficient states. Beta Cell, Pdx-1,SERCA2, Diabetes Cell physiology -- Research Endoplasmic reticulum -- Pathophysiology Diabetes -- Research Stress (Physiology) -- Research Sarcoplasmic reticulum -- Research Cellular signal transduction Islands of Langerhans
104	HOW TO BE A BAD HOST FOR VIRUSES BY UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITIES OF HOST LIPID-VIRAL PROTEIN INTERACTIONS Emily A David (17583603) 10 December 2023 (has links) <p dir="ltr">The recent global pandemic, COVID-19, has revealed to all the importance of understanding the complex relationship between viruses and hosts. Before COVID-19, I started my study of viral protein-host lipid interactions in the hemorrhagic fevers Ebola and Marburg viruses. These viruses contain a matrix protein that interacts with the plasma membrane to facilitate the formation of both authentic viruses and virus-like particles. My goal was to understand the limitations of their specific host lipid interactions. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, so to be our swift response in the development of a biosafety level 2 compatible model. This model can be used for studying severe acute respiratory distress syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assembly, egress, and entry. This model enabled exponentially greater access to more facilities to study the intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 assembly. With more access to studying the virus in a safe model, our goal is to push the understanding of viral assembly faster. I then began to take apart the individual pieces of the model and started to look at understanding the roles that they play independently. The membrane protein is the most abundant structural protein and I studied the specific lipid interactions of the soluble fraction of the protein. Physicians observed nucleocapsid protein mutations in the clinic with the increasing number of SARS-CoV-2 variants that are on the rise. The microscopy data collected can give us more insight into perhaps how the nucleocapsid protein induces the formation of filopodia structures at the plasma membrane. The envelope protein proved to be a challenge, but I determined a specific envelope and ceramide interaction in cells. The envelope protein was also causing the formation of microvesicles for an undefined function. I was able to determine the subcellular localization of the protein to the mitochondria. The localization to the mitochondria appears to induce depolarization of the mitochondria membrane action potential and induces the increase in mitochondria dysfunction signal, cytochrome c. Although the mitochondria were dysfunctional, there was no increase in apoptosis signal in the presence of the protein alone.</p> Enzymes Protein trafficking Virology Medical biochemistry - lipids Medical virology Cell physiology Basic pharmacology BSL-2 Virus-like particle VLP SARS-CoV-2 EBOV (Ebola virus) mitochondrial membrane localization lipid interaction studies ceramide scanning electron microscopy methodology SARS-CoV-2-N SARS-CoV-2-E SARS-CoV-2-M VP40
105	Development of Sensitive In Vitro Assays to Assess the Ocular Toxicity Potential of Chemicals and Ophthalmic Products McCanna, David January 2009 (has links) The utilization of in vitro tests with a tiered testing strategy for detection of mild ocular irritants can reduce the use of animals for testing, provide mechanistic data on toxic effects, and reduce the uncertainty associated with dose selection for clinical trials. The first section of this thesis describes how in vitro methods can be used to improve the prediction of the toxicity of chemicals and ophthalmic products. The proper utilization of in vitro methods can accurately predict toxic threshold levels and reduce animal use in product development. Sections two, three and four describe the development of new sensitive in vitro methods for predicting ocular toxicity. Maintaining the barrier function of the cornea is critical for the prevention of the penetration of infections microorganisms and irritating chemicals into the eye. Chapter 2 describes the development of a method for assessing the effects of chemicals on tight junctions using a human corneal epithelial and canine kidney epithelial cell line. In Chapter 3 a method that uses a primary organ culture for assessing single instillation and multiple instillation toxic effects is described. The ScanTox system was shown to be an ideal system to monitor the toxic effects over time as multiple readings can be taken of treated bovine lenses using the nondestructive method of assessing for the lens optical quality. Confirmations of toxic effects were made with the utilization of the viability dye alamarBlue. Chapter 4 describes the development of sensitive in vitro assays for detecting ocular toxicity by measuring the effects of chemicals on the mitochondrial integrity of bovine cornea, bovine lens epithelium and corneal epithelial cells, using fluorescent dyes. The goal of this research was to develop an in vitro test battery that can be used to accurately predict the ocular toxicity of new chemicals and ophthalmic formulations. By comparing the toxicity seen in vivo animals and humans with the toxicity response in these new in vitro methods, it was demonstrated that these in vitro methods can be utilized in a tiered testing strategy in the development of new chemicals and ophthalmic formulations. in vitro Alternative Methods alamarBlue rhodamine tight junctions bovine lens viability toxicity mitochondria mitochondria integrity benzalkonium chloride sodium dodecyl sulphate sodium lauryl sulfate scanning electron microscopy Draize Draize maximal average scores zonula occludens cosmetic directive PETA humane society animal league ICCVAM ECVAM JaCVAM BCOP bovine cornea ocular irritants ocular irritation ocular toxicity human corneal epithelial cells vitro confocal confocal microscopy metabolic activity optical quality reactive oxygen species contact lens contact lens care solutions barrier function microbial keratitis mulitipurpose solutions tight junction cell damage claudin ZO-1 occludin MDCK Madin Madin-Darby canine kidney cells cornea human cornea human corneal epithelium epithelial cell line human corneal epithelial cell line sodium fluorescein sodium fluorescein permeability fluorescein permeability ocular surface cell monolayer Araki-Sasaki cell physiology risk assessment safety assessment ScanTox scanning laser lens epithelium corneal cells in vitro model ophthalmic formulations multiple instillation back vertex animal testing rabbit testing alternatives to animal testing cultured bovine lens toxicity of chemicals irritation irritants laser scanner organ culture delayed toxicity toxins hydrogen peroxide cornea toxicity cornea toxicity models prediction of human toxicity no observable adverse effect level lowest observable adverse effect level NOAEL LOAEL toxicity thresholds safety factors cornea uncertainty factors preservatives disinfectants ophthalmic products preclinical preclinical testing epithelial barrier drug penetration clinical confocal microscopy animal rights rabbit cornea human cornea human clinical effects toxic animal rights activist sensitive measures toxic effect toxicity threshold agar overlay agar diffusion agar overlay method agar diffusion method cytochrome cytochrome c apoptosis necrotic apoptotic necrosis caspase rhodamine 123 resazuran resorufin cell death cell viability metabolic dye microsomal microsomal enzymes cytotoxicity cytotoxic cytotoxic effect MTT XTT WST-1 plasma membrane mitochondrial mitochondrial morphology ocular toxicity potential ocular toxicity human corneal epithelial cell line confocal analysis corneal epithelium cell fluorescence alamarBlue assay rhodamine dye animal welfare toxic injury degraded mitochondria epithelial monolayer disinfectants membrane integrity eye toxicity eye viability dye toxicity in humans human toxicity effects on the mitochondria mitochondrial toxicity in vitro battery in vitro test battery ophthalmic eye drop direct contact product safety cytotoxicity potential molecular molecular biology refine reduce replace sensitivity and relevance sensitivity relevance rabbit ocular irritation test product development cytotoxicity models cytotoxicity alternative methods replacements for animal testing three r's beagle tiered testing tiered testing strategy replacements animal testing mechanistic toxicity cornea mitochondria dose response threshold Vision Science and Biology
106	Development of Sensitive In Vitro Assays to Assess the Ocular Toxicity Potential of Chemicals and Ophthalmic Products McCanna, David January 2009 (has links) The utilization of in vitro tests with a tiered testing strategy for detection of mild ocular irritants can reduce the use of animals for testing, provide mechanistic data on toxic effects, and reduce the uncertainty associated with dose selection for clinical trials. The first section of this thesis describes how in vitro methods can be used to improve the prediction of the toxicity of chemicals and ophthalmic products. The proper utilization of in vitro methods can accurately predict toxic threshold levels and reduce animal use in product development. Sections two, three and four describe the development of new sensitive in vitro methods for predicting ocular toxicity. Maintaining the barrier function of the cornea is critical for the prevention of the penetration of infections microorganisms and irritating chemicals into the eye. Chapter 2 describes the development of a method for assessing the effects of chemicals on tight junctions using a human corneal epithelial and canine kidney epithelial cell line. In Chapter 3 a method that uses a primary organ culture for assessing single instillation and multiple instillation toxic effects is described. The ScanTox system was shown to be an ideal system to monitor the toxic effects over time as multiple readings can be taken of treated bovine lenses using the nondestructive method of assessing for the lens optical quality. Confirmations of toxic effects were made with the utilization of the viability dye alamarBlue. Chapter 4 describes the development of sensitive in vitro assays for detecting ocular toxicity by measuring the effects of chemicals on the mitochondrial integrity of bovine cornea, bovine lens epithelium and corneal epithelial cells, using fluorescent dyes. The goal of this research was to develop an in vitro test battery that can be used to accurately predict the ocular toxicity of new chemicals and ophthalmic formulations. By comparing the toxicity seen in vivo animals and humans with the toxicity response in these new in vitro methods, it was demonstrated that these in vitro methods can be utilized in a tiered testing strategy in the development of new chemicals and ophthalmic formulations. in vitro Alternative Methods alamarBlue rhodamine tight junctions bovine lens viability toxicity mitochondria mitochondria integrity benzalkonium chloride sodium dodecyl sulphate sodium lauryl sulfate scanning electron microscopy Draize Draize maximal average scores zonula occludens cosmetic directive PETA humane society animal league ICCVAM ECVAM JaCVAM BCOP bovine cornea ocular irritants ocular irritation ocular toxicity human corneal epithelial cells vitro confocal confocal microscopy metabolic activity optical quality reactive oxygen species contact lens contact lens care solutions barrier function microbial keratitis mulitipurpose solutions tight junction cell damage claudin ZO-1 occludin MDCK Madin Madin-Darby canine kidney cells cornea human cornea human corneal epithelium epithelial cell line human corneal epithelial cell line sodium fluorescein sodium fluorescein permeability fluorescein permeability ocular surface cell monolayer Araki-Sasaki cell physiology risk assessment safety assessment ScanTox scanning laser lens epithelium corneal cells in vitro model ophthalmic formulations multiple instillation back vertex animal testing rabbit testing alternatives to animal testing cultured bovine lens toxicity of chemicals irritation irritants laser scanner organ culture delayed toxicity toxins hydrogen peroxide cornea toxicity cornea toxicity models prediction of human toxicity no observable adverse effect level lowest observable adverse effect level NOAEL LOAEL toxicity thresholds safety factors cornea uncertainty factors preservatives disinfectants ophthalmic products preclinical preclinical testing epithelial barrier drug penetration clinical confocal microscopy animal rights rabbit cornea human cornea human clinical effects toxic animal rights activist sensitive measures toxic effect toxicity threshold agar overlay agar diffusion agar overlay method agar diffusion method cytochrome cytochrome c apoptosis necrotic apoptotic necrosis caspase rhodamine 123 resazuran resorufin cell death cell viability metabolic dye microsomal microsomal enzymes cytotoxicity cytotoxic cytotoxic effect MTT XTT WST-1 plasma membrane mitochondrial mitochondrial morphology ocular toxicity potential ocular toxicity human corneal epithelial cell line confocal analysis corneal epithelium cell fluorescence alamarBlue assay rhodamine dye animal welfare toxic injury degraded mitochondria epithelial monolayer disinfectants membrane integrity eye toxicity eye viability dye toxicity in humans human toxicity effects on the mitochondria mitochondrial toxicity in vitro battery in vitro test battery ophthalmic eye drop direct contact product safety cytotoxicity potential molecular molecular biology refine reduce replace sensitivity and relevance sensitivity relevance rabbit ocular irritation test product development cytotoxicity models cytotoxicity alternative methods replacements for animal testing three r's beagle tiered testing tiered testing strategy replacements animal testing mechanistic toxicity cornea mitochondria dose response threshold Vision Science and Biology

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