Currently, ASHRAE has determined the zone method and modified zone method are appropriate calculation methods for materials with a high difference in conductivity, such as cold-formed steel (CFS) walls. Because there is currently no standard U-Factor calculation method for CFS walls, designers and code officials alike tend to resort to the zone method. However, the zone method is restricted to larger span assemblies because the zone factor coefficient is 2.0. This tends to overestimate the amount of surface area influenced by CFS. The modified zone method is restricted to C-shaped stud, clear wall assemblies with framing factors between 9 and 15%. The objective of the research is to narrow the gap of knowledge by re-examining the modified zone method in order to more accurately determine R-Values and U-Factors for CFS wall assemblies with whole wall framing factor percentages of 22% and above.

von Willebrand factor (VWF) protein acts in the intrinsic coagulation pathway by stabilizing FVIII from proteolytic clearance and at the site of injury, by promoting the adhesion and aggregation of platelets to the exposed subendothelial wall. von Willebrand disease (VWD) results from quantitative and qualitative deficiencies in VWF protein. The variability expressivity in phenotype presentations is in partly caused by the action of modifier genes. Zebrafish has been used as hemostasis animal model. However, it has not been used to evaluate VWD. Here, we report the development of a heterozygote VWF mutant zebrafish using the genome editing CRISPR/Cas9 system to screen for modifier genes involved in VWD. We designed CRISPR oligonucleotides and inserted them into pT7-gRNa plasmid. We then prepared VWF gRNA along with the endonuclease Cas9 RNA from Cas9 plasmid. We injected these two RNAs into 1-4 cell-stage zebrafish embryos and induced a mutation in VWF exon 29 of the zebrafish with a mutagenesis rate of 16.6% (3/18 adult fish). Also, we observed a germline transmission with an efficiency rate of 5.5% (1/18 adult fish). We obtained a deletion in exon 29 which should result in truncated VWF protein.

Cheung Chun Kai. / Thesis submitted in: December 2003. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-146). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iv / 摘要 --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.ix / List of Tables --- p.xv / List of Figures --- p.xvi / List of Abbreviations --- p.xxi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Overview --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Historical background --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Insulin-like growth factor --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Structure and synthesis --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Physiologic role and biological actions --- p.6 / Chapter 2.3 --- Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Structure and synthesis --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Physiologic role and biological actions --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Clinical aspects --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Metabolic effects of IGF-1 --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Similarities between IGF-I and insulin --- p.11 / Chapter 2.4.1.2 --- Differences between IGF-I and insulin --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Glucose and protein metabolism --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Therapeutic use of IGF-I --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.3.1 --- Type 1 diabetes mellitus --- p.16 / Chapter 2.4.3.2 --- Type 2 diabetes mellitus --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Side effects --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5 --- World demands --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Significance of large-scale production --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- IGF-I production --- p.21 / Chapter 2.6 --- Plants as bioreactors --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Medical molecular farming --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Advantages of plant bioreactor --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Commercial biopharmaceutical protein --- p.25 / Chapter 2.7 --- Tobacco expression system --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Tobacco model plant --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Transformation methods --- p.26 / Chapter 2.8 --- Hypotheses and aims of study --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Expression of Human IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in Transgenic Tobacco --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Chemicals --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Plant materials --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Bacterial strains --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Codon modification of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNAs --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Transient assay to study IGF-I or IGFBP-3 translatability --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.5.1 --- Construction of chimeric genes for particle bombardment --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.5.2 --- Particle bombardment of GUS fusion constructs --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Construction of chimeric genes for tobacco transformation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.6.1 --- Construction of chimeric genes with different promoters --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.6.1.1 --- Construction of chimeric gene with CaMV 35S promoter --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.6.1.2 --- Construction of chimeric genes with phaseolin promoter --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.6.2 --- Construction of fusion constructs --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.6.2.1 --- Construction of GUS fusion constructs --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.6.2.2 --- Construction of LRP fusion constructs --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.6.3 --- Construction of phaseolin targeting constructs --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.6.3.1 --- Construction of phaseolin targeting constructs without AFVY --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.6.3.2 --- Construction of phaseolin targeting constructs with AFVY --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.6.4 --- Cloning of chimeric genes into Agrobacterium binary vector pBI 121 --- p.64 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Confirmation of sequencing fidelity of chimeric genes --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Transformation of Agrobacterium by electroporation --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Transformation of tobacco --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Selection and regeneration of transgenic tobacco --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.11 --- GUS assay --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.12 --- Extraction of leaf genomic DNA --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.13 --- PCR of genomic DNA --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.14 --- Synthesis of DIG-labeled double-stranded DNA probe --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.15 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.16 --- Extraction of total RNA from leaves or developing seeds --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.17 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.18 --- Extraction of total protein --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.19 --- Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.20 --- Western blot analysis --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.21 --- Enterokinase digestion of fusion protein --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1 --- Particle bombardment for transient assay --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Construction of GUS fusion genes for particle bombardment --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Transient expression of GUS fusion genes in soybean cotyledons and tobacco leaves --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2 --- Construction of chimeric genes for tobacco transformation --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3 --- "Tobacco transformation, selection and regeneration" --- p.81 / Chapter 4.4 --- Detection of GUS activity --- p.83 / Chapter 4.5 --- Detection of transgene integration --- p.84 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Extraction of genomic DNA and PCR --- p.84 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.88 / Chapter 4.6 --- Detection of transgene transcription --- p.92 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Extraction of total RNA --- p.92 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.92 / Chapter 4.7 --- Detection of transgene translation --- p.99 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- Extraction of total protein and Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.99 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Western blot analysis --- p.102 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Enterokinase digestion of fusion protein --- p.109 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion --- p.111 / Chapter 5.1 --- Codon modification of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNAs --- p.114 / Chapter 5.2 --- Transient expression of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNAs --- p.116 / Chapter 5.3 --- Fusion of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cDNA with LRP gene --- p.118 / Chapter 5.4 --- Enterokinase digestion --- p.120 / Chapter 5.5 --- Phaseolin targeting signal --- p.122 / Chapter 5.6 --- Gene silencing --- p.124 / Chapter 5.7 --- Future perspectives --- p.128 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.131 / References --- p.133

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a polypeptide protein hormone similar to insulin. It plays an important role in growth and anabolic effects in life. Most circulating IGF-I is bound to high-affinity insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), to form a complex (IGF-I/IGFBP-3) that can treat growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) and can lower plasma glucose in diabetic patients. Its side effects can be reduced without affecting the therapeutic efficacy. Human insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (hIGFBP-3) alone is an anti-tumor agent. It has been shown to have anti-proliferation effect on numerous cancer cells, such as breast, prostate and liver cancers. / Our previous study has demonstrated that recombinant hIGF-I (rhIGF-I) and hIGFBP-3 (rhIGFBP-3) could be synthesized in transgenic tobacco plant. In the present study, we propose to establish an efficient bioreactor platform for mass production of hIGF-I and hIGFBP-3 in rice, as rice grain contains 8-15% of protein by dry weight. In order to enhance rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 stability and yield, and to control their glycosylation, various constructs were designed and transformed into rice by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Protein targeting signal sequence (KDEL) was fused to direct the target proteins to specific compartments in rice grain for glycosylation in the Golgi apparatus or for stable accumulation without complex glycan processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. These expression constructs were driven by seed-specific glutelin promoter (Gt1pro). Western blot analysis showed that the rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 were successfully expressed in transgenic rice grains. Biological activity of rhIGF-I was evidenced by the induction of membrane ruffling in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells, while rhIGFBP-3 was effective in inhibiting the effect of IGF-I on membrane ruffling of L6 cell. Moreover, rhIGFBP-3 was also found to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Biological activity results showed that the active expression levels of rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 were found to be 10 ug and 7.36 ug per 1 g of rice seed respectively. These findings suggested that both rice-produced rhIGF-I and rhIGFBP-3 were biologically active. / Cheung, Chun Kai. / "September 2007." / Adviser: Peter Tong Chun Yip. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-08, Section: B, page: 4555. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-243). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

by Keung Ka Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-184). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiv / List of Tables --- p.xvi / List of Figures --- p.xvi / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1. --- Events happened after brain injury --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Glial cells --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Microglia --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Oligodendrocytes --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3. --- Astrocytes --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3.1. --- Uptake of neurotransmitters --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.3.2. --- Maintenance of extracellular homeostasis --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3.3. --- Induction of blood-brain-barrier --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3.4. --- Guidance of migrating neurons during development --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3.5. --- Immunocompetent cells of the brain --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3.6. --- Contribution to astrogliosis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3. --- Cytokines and astrogliosis --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- IL-6 and astrogliosis --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- IL-1 and astrogliosis --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.3. --- IFN-γ and astrogliosis --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.4. --- TNF-α and astrogliosis --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.4.1. --- General properties of TNF-α --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.4.2. --- TNF receptors (TNFRs) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.4.3. --- NFkB induction --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.4.4. --- Intermediate early genes --- p.19 / Chapter 1.3.4.5. --- iNOS is the target of NFkB and AP-1 --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4. --- β-Adrenergic receptors (P-ARs) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- β-ARs and astrogliosis --- p.22 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- General properties of β-ARs --- p.23 / Chapter 1.4.3. --- Interactions between β-adrenergic mechanism and TNF-α --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5. --- Aims and scopes of the project --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- MATERIALS & METHODS / Chapter 2.1. --- Materials --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Rats for astrocyte culture --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Cell culture materials --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2.1. --- Complete Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium:F12 (DF12) --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.2.2. --- Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Drugs preparation --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.3.1. --- Recombinant cytokines --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.3.2. --- Modulators of protein kinase A (PKA) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.3.3. --- Modulators of protein kinase C (PKC) --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.3.4. --- β-Agonists and -antagonists --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.3.5. --- Antibodies used in western blot analysis --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.4. --- Reagents for cell proliferation determination --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.5. --- Reagents for RNA isolation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.6. --- Reagents for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.7. --- Reagents for Electrophoresis --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.8. --- Reagents and buffers for western blotting --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2. --- Methods --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Preparation of primary astrocytes --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Preparation of cells for assays --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Determination of cell proliferation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.3.1. --- [3H]-Thymidine incorporation assay --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.3.2. --- MTT assay --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.3.3. --- Data analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- Determination of RNA expression by RT-PCR analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.4.1. --- RNA extraction --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.4.2. --- Spectrophotometric Quantitation of DNA and RNA --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.4.3. --- RNA gel electrophoresis --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.4.4. --- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.4.5. --- Separation of PCR products by agarose gel electrophoresis --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.4.6. --- Quantification of band density --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.5. --- Determination of protein expression by Western blotting --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.5.1. --- Total protein extraction --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.5.2. --- Western blotting analysis --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1. --- Effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on astrocyte proliferation --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on astrocyte proliferation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Effects of TNF-R1 and -R2 antibodies on astrocyte proliferation --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- Effects of other cytokines on astrocyte proliferation --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.4. --- Comparisons of the effects of cytokines on astrocyte proliferation --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2. --- Effects of β-agonist and -antagonist on astrocyte proliferation --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of TNFR and endogenous TNF-α in astrocytes --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of TNF-R1 and -R2 in astrocytes --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.1.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of TNF-R1 and -R2 mRNA --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.1.2. --- TNFR subtypes involved in the TNF-α-induced TNF-R2 mRNA expression --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.1.3. --- Signaling pathways of the TNF-α-induced TNF-R2 mRNA expression --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.1.4. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of TNF-R1 and -R2 --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of endogenous TNF-α in astrocytes --- p.73 / Chapter 3.3.2.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of TNF-α mRNA --- p.73 / Chapter 3.3.2.2. --- TNFR subtypes involved in the TNF-α-induced TNF-α mRNA expression --- p.73 / Chapter 3.3.2.3. --- Signaling pathways of the TNF-α-induced TNF-α mRNA expression --- p.74 / Chapter 3.3.2.4. --- Effects of other cytokines on the expression of TNF-α mRNA --- p.75 / Chapter 3.4. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of β1- and β2-AR in astrocytes --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of β1- and β2-AR mRNA --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4.2. --- TNFR subtypes involved in the TNF-a-induced β1 and β2-AR mRNA expressions --- p.88 / Chapter 3.4.3. --- Signaling pathways of the TNF-α -induced β1- and β2-AR mRNA expressions --- p.88 / Chapter 3.4.4. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of β1- and β2-AR protein --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4.5. --- Effects of other cytokines on the expression of β1- and β2-AR mRNA --- p.100 / Chapter 3.5. --- Interactions between TNF-α and β-adrenergic mechanism in astrocytes --- p.107 / Chapter 3.5.1. --- Effects of β-agonists and -antagonists on the TNF-α-induced endogenous TNF-α expression in astrocytes --- p.107 / Chapter 3.5.1.1. --- Effects of ISO and PROP on the expression of TNF-α mRNA --- p.107 / Chapter 3.5.1.2. --- β-AR subtypes involved in the TNF-α-induced TNF-α mRNA expression --- p.108 / Chapter 3.5.2. --- Effects of β-agonists and -antagonists on the TNF-α-induced TNFRs expression in astrocytes --- p.112 / Chapter 3.5.2.1. --- Effects of ISO and PROP on the expression of TNFRs mRNA --- p.112 / Chapter 3.5.2.2. --- β-AR subtypes involved in the TNF-α-induced TNF-R2 mRNA expression --- p.115 / Chapter 3.6. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of transcription factors in astrocytes --- p.117 / Chapter 3.6.1. --- "Effects of TNF-α on c-fos, c-jun and NFKB/p50 expression" --- p.118 / Chapter 3.6.2. --- Effects of other cytokines on the expression of NFKB/p50 mRNA --- p.119 / Chapter 3.6.3. --- "TNFR subtypes involved in the TNF-α-induced c-fos, c-jun and NFKB/p50 mRNA expression" --- p.125 / Chapter 3.7. --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of iNOS in astrocytes --- p.130 / Chapter 3.7.1. --- Effects ofTNF-α the expression of iNOS mRNA --- p.130 / Chapter 3.7.2. --- TNFR subtypes involved in the TNF-α-induced iNOS mRNA expression --- p.131 / Chapter 3.7.3. --- Signaling pathways of the TNF-α-induced iNOS mRNA expression --- p.136 / Chapter 3.7.4. --- Effects of other cytokines on the expression of iNOS mRNA --- p.139 / Chapter 3.7.5. --- Effects of β-agonists and -antagonists on the TNF-α-induced iNOS expression --- p.142 / Chapter 3.7.5.1. --- Effects of ISO and PROP on the expression of iNOS mRNA --- p.142 / Chapter 3.7.5.2. --- β-AR subtypes involved in the TNF-α-induced iNOS mRNA expression --- p.143 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- DISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSIONS / Chapter 4.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on astrocyte proliferation --- p.148 / Chapter 4.2. --- Roles of endogenous TNF-α and TNFR in astrocyte proliferation --- p.150 / Chapter 4.3. --- Interactions between TNF-α and β-adrenergic mechanism in astrocytes --- p.154 / Chapter 4.4. --- Induction of transcription factors by TNF-α in astrocytes --- p.157 / Chapter 4.5. --- Possible source of β-agonists --- p.159 / Chapter 4.6. --- Conclusions --- p.160 / REFERENCE --- p.163

Retinopathy of prematurity, a disease characterised by aberrant retinal vascular development in premature neonates, is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in childhood. This work sought to examine differences in the susceptibility of inbred rat strains to oxygen-induced retinopathy, a model of human retinopathy of prematurity. The overriding aim was to identify genetic factors in rats that might be generalisable to humans. Newborn rats of six different strains were exposed to alternating cycles of hyperoxia and relative hypoxia for fourteen days. Rats were removed to room air and killed for analysis immediately, to assess oxygen-induced retinal vascular attenuation, or four days later to evaluate the extent of hypoxia-induced vasoproliferation. Whole flat-mounted retinae were stained with fluorophore conjugated isolectin GS-IB4, and measurement of vascular area was conducted using fluorescence microscopy and video-image analysis. A hierarchy of susceptibility to the inhibitory effects of cyclic hyperoxia and relative hypoxia on postnatal retinal vascularization was identified for the rat strains studied. Susceptibility to vascular attenuation was predictive of the subsequent risk of vascular morphological abnormalities. Cross-breeding experiments between susceptible and resistant strains demonstrated that the susceptible phenotype was dominantly inherited in an autosomal fashion. These studies confirmed an association between ocular pigmentation and retinopathy risk, however the finding of differential susceptibility amongst albino rat strains implicated factors in addition to those associated with ocular pigmentation. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to compare the retinal expression of angiogenic factor genes in susceptible and resistant strains with the aim of identifying a genetic basis for the strain difference. Eight angiogenic factor genes were selected for study: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); VEGF receptor 2; angiopoietin 2; Tie2; pigment epithelium-derived factor; erythropoietin; cyclooxygenase-2 and insulin-like growth factor-1. The most notable difference between strains was the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during the cyclic hyperoxia exposure period - higher VEGF expression was associated with relative resistance to retinopathy. Other differences in retinal angiogenic factor gene expression between strains, such as higher expression of VEGF receptor 2 and angiopoietin 2 in resistant strains, appeared to be secondary to those in VEGF. Following cyclic hyperoxia, the expression pattern of angiogenic factor genes changed - messenger RNA levels of hypoxia-induced genes, including VEGF, VEGF receptor 2, angiopoietin 2 and erythropoietin, were significantly higher in those strains with larger avascular areas, than in those strains that were relatively resistant to retinopathy. These findings provide firm evidence for hereditary risk factors for oxygen-induced retinopathy in the rat. Differences in the regulatory effects of oxygen on VEGF expression appear to be central to the risk of retinopathy. The potential relevance of these hereditary factors is discussed in the context of the human disease.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser. Även tryckt utgåva.

Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.