Life Sciences Commons^™

The Novel Characterization Of Extracellular Vesicles Containing Proteins Which Have Been Implicated In The Pathogenesis Of Hiv Associated Neurocognitive Disorders, Grace Ispas

Master's Theses

Although Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) is practiced, HIV-1 positive individuals still experience HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND), collectively described as the presentation of neurocognitive, behavioral and motor dysfunctions that decrease the quality of life, while increasing the mortality in ART suppressed HIV-1 positive patients.

Current literature suggests that extracellular vesicles are involved in the pathogenesis of HAND as they are believed to be transferring HIV-1 proteins to nearby neuronal cells. Although most studies assume homogeneity among populations, characterizing cellular proteins or RNA levels in bulk, we hypothesize that distinct populations of extracellular vesicles are released and that environmental conditions, including viral infections, …

Dexamethasone Treatment Effects On H3k27me3 Chromatin Organization Is Related To Nk Cell Immune Dysregulation, Michael Sarafeno Misale

Master's Theses

It is well-established that psychological stress reduces natural killer (NK) cell immune function. This reduction is mediated by stress-induced release of glucocorticoids (GC), which can suppress immune function. Associated with suppression of a particular immune function are GC induced histone-epigenetic marks. Histone-epigenetic marks are responsible for the organization and compartmentalization of genomes into transcriptionally active euchromatin domains that are localized to the interior of the nucleus. Transcriptionally silent heterochromatic domains are enriched with methylated epigenetic marks and are localized to the nuclear periphery. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the influence of GC on H3K27me3 chromatin organization by …

Multifunctional Regulatory T Cells From Human Umbilical Cord Blood And The Role Of Tumor Necrosis Factor In Immune Homeostasis, Alexander Nelson

Master's Theses

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are required to suppress inflammation and prevent autoimmunity. During fetal development Tregs are crucial to maintain tolerance between mother and child. After birth, neonates require tolerance to avoid harmful immune responses to foreign antigens in food and allow colonization with commensal microbes. We demonstrate a propensity for T cells in human umbilical cord blood to differentiate into Tregs in response to antigen receptor stimulation ex vivo. Cord blood-derived Tregs potently suppress T cell proliferation, but also produce pro-inflammatory cytokines known to activate innate immune responses. These results suggest that antigen exposure during early life results in …