Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Potential Bioactives And Inflammatory Mediators Regulating Adipose Tissue Function In Obesity, Seok-Yeong Yu

Doctoral Dissertations

Obesity is a serious health problem in the U.S. and worldwide and is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Observational studies have also shown an inverse relationship between obesity and reduced bioavailability of fat-soluble vitamins, which is due in part to increased sequestration in expanded adipose tissue (AT). AT serves as the primary site of storage organ for excess energy, however, in morbid obesity enlarged adipocytes exhibit decreased lipid uptake, impaired lipid hydrolysis and oxidation and increased inflammation, which are collectively referred to as AT dysfunction. Substantial evidence characterizes AT …

Brown And Beige Adipocytes: Effects Of Inflammation And Nutritional Intervention, Jiyoung Bae

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent findings of brown adipocytes and brown-like or beige adipocytes, capable of dissipating energy as heat, in adult humans have promised new hope for obesity treatment and prevention. Understanding of the regulation of brown and beige adipocytes will provide novel strategies to reach the goal. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) are responsible for inflammation in adipose tissue, which leads to adipose dysfunction and obesity associated chronic diseases. It has been shown that PRR activation induces inflammation, leading to insulin resistance in white adipocytes and white adipose tissue (WAT). However, the roles of PRR activation in brown adipocytes and brown adipose tissue …

Role Of Microrna-155 In Herpes Simplex Virus Pathogenesis, Siddheshvar Bhela

Doctoral Dissertations

Ocular infection with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) can result in a chronic immunoinflammatory stromal keratitis (SK) lesion that is a significant cause of human blindness. These lesions are mainly orchestrated by IFN-gamma producing CD4+ T cells (Th1) and neutrophils. HSV being neurotropic in nature can also disseminate into the brain and lead to herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). In this study we investigated the role of miR-155 in the pathogenesis of HSK and HSE.

The first part of the dissertation (I) reviews literature regarding the contribution of miRNAs in innate and adaptive immune responses. It also focuses on their involvement …