Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves xxx-xxx. Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Indiana University, 2008. / Title from screen (viewed on August 28, 2009). Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Raymond L. Konger, Jeffrey B. Travers, Dan F. Spandau. Includes vita. Non-Latin script record Includes bibliographical references (leaves 32-36).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-96). Print copy also available.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / It has recently been shown that the gamma subtype of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) is a target of ultraviolet B (290-320 nm; UVB) irradiation, and that PPARγ activation is necessary for full UVB-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induction. However, the biological significance of PPARγ activation in cutaneous photobiology is unknown. Acute UVB irradiation results in a characteristic series of events in the epidermis which includes: an initial edema response and subsequent inflammation, COX-2 induction, apoptosis, and a delayed hyperproliferative response. Therefore, the regulatory role of PPARγ activation was examined in this acute photoresponse using a topical application of the potent, irreversible PPARγ antagonist, GW9962. GW9662 was applied to the epidermis of SKH1 hairless albino mice at increasing doses (0.01-1.0mM) prior to UVB irradiation. The photobiological responses were examined through RT-PCR, skin thickness measurements, and immunohistochemistry, at 24 and 72 hours after UVB-irradiation. At the highest dose, GW9622 significantly inhibited UVB-induced inflammation, as measured by COX-2 induction at both 24 and 72 hrs. Inflammation assessed by skin thickness measurements indicated that lower doses mildly increased inflammation at 72 hrs, but suppressed inflammation at the highest dose. In contrast, GW9662 treatment dose dependently augmented UVB-induced apoptosis at 24 hours, while affecting the delayed hyperproliferative response at 72 hours in an inverse dose-response manner. The results from this study suggest that PPARγ is a key regulator of these photobiological responses. Because these responses are well known to be involved in tumor development and progression, this study also suggests a potential role for PPARγ in UVB-induced skin cancers.

Xiao, Lijia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-158). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 158-174.

Cheng, Cho Yiu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 186-217). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.1 / Abstract of thesis --- p.2 / Abstract of thesis in Chinese --- p.7 / Presentation attended --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction and Background --- p.13 / Chapter 1.1 --- Anatomy and functions of human prostate gland --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2 --- Worldwide epidemiology of prostate cancer --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3 --- Prostate cancer stages and treatments in clinic --- p.21 / Chapter 1.4 --- Introduction to nuclear receptors --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5 --- Nuclear receptor structure --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6 --- Nuclear receptors nomenclature and classification --- p.28 / Chapter 1.7 --- Mode of action for nuclear receptors --- p.34 / Chapter 1.8 --- Co-regulators of nuclear receptors --- p.35 / Chapter 1.9 --- Nuclear receptors related to prostate cancer --- p.43 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Aim of study and experimental design --- p.59 / Chapter 2.1 --- Aim of study --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2 --- In vitro cell lines models used in the study --- p.60 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Materials and methods --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1 --- Apparatus and preparation throughout the study --- p.64 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cells culture --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3 --- RNA extraction --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4 --- Reverse transcription --- p.68 / Chapter 3.5 --- Primers specificity checking --- p.69 / Chapter 3.6 --- Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction --- p.84 / Chapter 3.7 --- Data analysis --- p.90 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Results --- p.92 / Chapter 4.1 --- Expression of nuclear receptors transcripts in each prostatic cell lines used --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2 --- Expression of nuclear receptor transcripts in immortalized prostatic epithelial BPH-1 and BPH-1 derived cell lines model --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3 --- Expression of nuclear receptor transcripts in androgen-dependent and androgen-independent classical prostatic cancer cell lines model --- p.121 / Chapter 4.4 --- Expression of nuclear receptor transcripts in androgen-independent and antiandrogen-resistant LNCaP derived cell lines model --- p.125 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Discussion --- p.129 / Chapter 5.1 --- Special expression pattern of some nuclear receptors in the prostatic cell lines or prostatic cancer cell lines --- p.129 / Chapter 5.2 --- BPH-1 and BPH-1 derived cell lines model --- p.138 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Prostatic cell lines model studying the transformation and invasion in prostate cancer (BPH-1 Snail & BPH-1 CAFTDs versus BPH-1) --- p.138 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Prostatic cell lines model studying the transformation and invasion in prostate cancer (BPH-1 Snail & BPH-1 CAFTDs versus BPH-1 AR) --- p.159 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- classical prostatic cancer cell lines model --- p.162 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Prostatic cancer cell lines model studying androgen-dependence and androgen-independence (DU145 & PC-3 versus LNCaP) --- p.163 / Chapter 5.4 --- LNCaP and LNCaP derived cell lines model --- p.170 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Prostatic cancer cell lines model studying androgen-independence and antiandrogen-resistance (LNCaP-abl & LNCaP-BCs versus LNCaP) --- p.171 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Conclusion --- p.179 / References --- p.186

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease secondary to deposition of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in the artery wall is a leading cause of mortality. Therapies that reduce serum levels of atherogenic lipoprotein-cholesterol have been successful in reducing cardiovascular mortality, but this approach requires long-term treatment and substantial residual risk remains. Here, we investigate mechanistic determinants of atherosclerosis protection by two potential therapeutic approaches for lowering of residual cardiovascular risk. Using mouse models, we show that the nuclear receptor liver X receptor exerts an anti-inflammatory activity on innate immunity and atherosclerosis through both promotion of cholesterol efflux and a direct cis-repressive activity affecting neutrophil inflammation. We then assess the causal role of the cholesterol efflux pathway in human cardiovascular events by using genetic variants that modify high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in instrumental variable analysis. We show that this pathway is associated with protection from cardiovascular disease in a precise and robust Mendelian randomization analysis on an FDR-controlled set of variants, which suggests a causal effect. Thus, agents that target the cholesterol efflux and liver X receptor cis-repression pathways may be protective in atherosclerosis.

The development of real time, label-free biosensors based on ligand-induced nanomechanical responses of microcantilevers (MCs) allows for sensitive and selective detection. High sensitivity is afforded by the MCs small dimensions. Immobilizing biomolecular recognition phases imparts selectivity from bioaffinity interactions. Biological sensors on a MC platform utilize various proteins, such as antibodies and nuclear receptors, which can be used to detect and screen for potential environmental contaminants. The interaction between contaminants and immobilized receptors induces an apparent surface stress that leads to static bending of the MC, which is monitored by an optical beam bending technique. Biofunctionalized MCs can provide high sensitivity and selectivity on a relatively inexpensive platform that requires small amounts of analyte. The goal of this research is to develop and optimize MCs as biosensors to detect low concentrations of contaminants. Initially, the research utilized specific receptors and antibodies to detect and screen for contaminants that are deemed endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Immobilizing estrogen receptors and specific antibodies on the MC surface may provide information on the ever expanding list of EDCs, along with fundamental endocrine studies. Then, the MC surface was morphologically and chemically optimized. This optimization included the thickness and metal ratio of the dealloyed surface. The concentration, reaction time, and pH of chemical immobilization reagents, which include aminoethanethiol and glutaraldehyde, were optimized by using an anti-body test system. Antibody and protein functionalization conditions, which are incubation time and concentration, were optimized using the anti-immunoglobulin G (anti-IgG) receptor: IgG and an anti-biotin:biotin test systems. The optimized immobilization conditions were applied to the detection of thyroid disrupting chemicals (TDCs) using MCs functionalized with the transport protein thyroxine-binding globulin. The final project involved developing a nanomechanical transducer to study xenobiotic and EDC interactions with the bioreceptor PXR’s ligand binding domain (LBD). The combination of immobilized LBD PXR with a nanostructured microcantilever (MC) platform allows for the study of ligand interaction with the receptor’s binding domain. PXR shows real-time, reversible responses when exposed to specific pharmaceutical, EDC, and xenobiotic ligands. Three binding interactions that involve EDCs are tested, which include phthalic acid, nonylphenol, and bisphenol A, with PXR.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.