Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 40
Full-Text Articles in Medical Sciences
Cd8+ T-Lymphocytes And The Control Of Cytomegalovirus Infection Of The Newborn Central Nervous System, Glenn Robert Burgner Bantug
Cd8+ T-Lymphocytes And The Control Of Cytomegalovirus Infection Of The Newborn Central Nervous System, Glenn Robert Burgner Bantug
All ETDs from UAB
Congenital HCMV infection of the developing brain is the leading viral cause of mental retardation and sensorineural hearing loss. To elucidate the pathogenesis of congenital HCMV CNS infections, we developed a small animal model of CMV infection where newborn Balb/c mice are peripherally inoculated with murine cytomegalovirus. In this model we observed transient deficits in cerebellar/hindbrain development as well as the recruitment of peripheral immune effector cells to the CNS parenchyma. CD8+ T-lymphocytes were the predominant mononuclear cellular infiltrates in the brain and immune-depletion of CD8+ cells resulted in increased viral genome copy numbers in the CNS. CD8+ T-lymphocytes exhibited …
Surveying The Chromosomal Supercoiling Levels In Rapidly Growing Wild Type And Gyrase Mutant Strains Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium With Γδ Resolvase-Mediated Recombination Assay, Zhenhua Pang
All ETDs from UAB
A gyrase mutant strain (gyrB652) has severe growth defect at 42°C. The survival at high temperature is dependent on DNA repair proteins. The purified mutant gyrase was assayed for supercoiling acitivity and quinolone-induced DNA cleavage activity. The results suggested that the mutant enzyme is not temperature-sensitive, but has slower kinetics than the wild type gyrase. The DNA supercoiling levels at multiple chromosomal loci in exponential phase cells were monitored with γδ resolvase-mediated recombination assay. The wild type cells showed homogenous supercoiling levels throughout most of the chromosome. But the superhelicity at dif locus was significantly lower than the other loci. …
Regulation Of Vertebrate Gastrulation By Erbb Signaling, Shuyi Nie
Regulation Of Vertebrate Gastrulation By Erbb Signaling, Shuyi Nie
All ETDs from UAB
ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases have long been implicated in cancer formation and progression by regulating cell division, migration, and survival. ErbBs are also essential in multiple processes during invertebrate development; however, their activities during vertebrate embryogenesis are not well understood. For functional characterization of ErbB signaling during vertebrate development, frog model Xenopus laevis was used in our studies. The expression pattern and the general activities of ErbB receptors during early frog development were first analyzed and results shown that ErbBs regulate gastrulation, somite organization and head patterning. As gastrulation is the first major morphogenetic event in vertebrate development, I focused …
Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention With Genistein And Resveratrol In Models Of Spontaneously Developing Prostate Cancer, Curt E. Harper
Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention With Genistein And Resveratrol In Models Of Spontaneously Developing Prostate Cancer, Curt E. Harper
All ETDs from UAB
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in the United States. The goal of this research was to investigate the potential of three nutriceutical polyphenols, genistein, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), to suppress prostate cancer. Cancer chemoprevention and mechanism of action studies were carried out in transgenic models of prostate cancer. In TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) model, resveratrol suppressed poorly differentiated tumors by 86%, whereas EGCG suppressed precancerous lesions, but failed to prevent late-stage prostate cancer. Agents that were chemopreventive in the TRAMP model were subsequently evaluated alone, and in combination, in the …
Regulation Of The Human Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene, Thomas D. Hock
Regulation Of The Human Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene, Thomas D. Hock
All ETDs from UAB
The heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene encodes a microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of heme to carbon monoxide, Iron, and biliverdin. HO-1 transcription is induced upon a plethora of cellular stresses including heme, heavy metal exposure, hy-poxia, oxidative stress and many others. The goal of this work was to explore the molecu-lar regulation of HO-1 transcription. Four DNase 1 hypersensitive sites are detected within the HO-1 promoter extending from ~-40bp to ~-9.2kb relative to the transcription start site. Dimethylsulfate (DMS) in vivo footprinting is shown for two regulatory re-gions and reveals nine protected guanines in all. Mutational analyses indicates that …
Primer Selection Of E. Coli Trna Lys,3 By Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Anna Mcculley
Primer Selection Of E. Coli Trna Lys,3 By Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Anna Mcculley
All ETDs from UAB
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV replication includes the notable process of reverse transcription, a conversion of RNA to DNA. Reverse transcription is initiated from a primer by a viral enzyme, reverse transcriptase. The primer, tRNALys,3, is selected from the cytoplasm of an infected cell, annealed via the 3’ terminal 18-nucleotides to the viral primer binding site (PBS), and used in a subsequent infection. The mechanism of primer selection has not been determined although numerous studies have been performed. This has been hampered by the challenge of tRNALys,3 manipulation in the cell and …
The Role Of Complement In The Clearance Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Through Immune Adherence, Jie Li
The Role Of Complement In The Clearance Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Through Immune Adherence, Jie Li
All ETDs from UAB
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequently isolated pathogen causing bacteremia in young children and elderly adults. Complement-dependent opsonophagocytosis is thought to be essential to eliminate pneumococci from the circulation. Pneumococci are reported to attach to erythrocytes through immune adherence (IA), a complement and antibody- dependent process that facilitates phagocytosis of pneumococci. In these studies we have determined that protein (chapter 1) and polysaccharide (chapter 2) virulence factors of pneumococci can interfere with this process and that antibody to pneumococci can enhance this process. Using PspA and/or PspC negative strains and complement-deficient mouse sera, we demonstrated that PspA inhibits complement C1q …
Molecular Determinants Of Picrotoxin Inhibition, Brian E. Erkkila
Molecular Determinants Of Picrotoxin Inhibition, Brian E. Erkkila
All ETDs from UAB
PTX is a non-competitive antagonist of many LGICs, and its site of action is believed to be within the ion-conducting pore. This study will examine, through the use of mutagenesis, electrophysiology and homology modeling, the binding interaction between the LGIC receptors and the PTX molecule. The data provides evidence that an interaction between the PTX molecule and uncharged polar amino acids at the 6’ level of the M2 transmembrane domain are essential for PTX inhibition. While the work will focus on the γ-aminobutyric type A receptor, the pharmacological and structural relevance is attributable to the LGIC family as a whole.
Loss Of Pias3 Expression In Glioblastoma Multiforme Tumors:Implications For Stat-3 Activation And Gene Expression, Emily Claire Brantley
Loss Of Pias3 Expression In Glioblastoma Multiforme Tumors:Implications For Stat-3 Activation And Gene Expression, Emily Claire Brantley
All ETDs from UAB
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common form of cancer in the central nervous system in adults. Because of the infiltrative and aggressive nature of GBM, current treatments including surgical resection, radiation and chemotherapy provide little benefit to patients diagnosed with this tumor. Median survival, after treatment, is less than one year. Despite advances in the basic understanding of cancer biology, this poor prognosis has remained virtually unchanged for several decades. Given the continuing difficulty of clinical treatment of GBMs, a molecular appreciation of relevant signaling pathways has grown. Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STATs) function to activate gene …
Characterization And Functional Analysis Of Usp14, Stephen Lewis Crimmins
Characterization And Functional Analysis Of Usp14, Stephen Lewis Crimmins
All ETDs from UAB
The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is essential for regulated protein degrada-tion, a requirement for numerous neuronal process, including vesicle cycling, neuro-transmitter release, spine morphology, and synaptic plasticity. Better understanding of UPS function in neurons will increase our knowledge of neurological diseases caused by alterations in ubiquitin signaling. I utilized the ataxia (axJ) mice as a tool to study the UPS in the nervous system. The axJ mice have lowered expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (Usp14) in all tissues; this decreased expression results from an intracisternal-A particle insertion into Usp14. The axJ mice are phenotypically indistinguishable from wild type littermates at …
The Role Of The Cytoskeleon In Achr Clustering, G Clement Dobbins
The Role Of The Cytoskeleon In Achr Clustering, G Clement Dobbins
All ETDs from UAB
The human brain contains billions of neurons which are designed to receive and integrate a range of electrical and biochemical signals. The ability to convey information between these cells depends on synapses. A precise apposition between the pre and post synapse must exist for efficient transmission to occur. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has become a model for studying synaptogenesis. Although much is known about the steps in NMJ formation, only recently have there been insights into the mechanism behind NMJ development. Much of this research has focused on how acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the postsynapse form clusters directly apposed to …
Directing Akt And Gsk3ss: Molecular Insights Into Cell Signaling And Survival, Gordon P. Meares
Directing Akt And Gsk3ss: Molecular Insights Into Cell Signaling And Survival, Gordon P. Meares
All ETDs from UAB
Proper regulation of survival signaling is critical for all organisms. One important signaling cascade involved in the coordinated effort to control signals influencing cell fate is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) signaling cascade. Following activation by growth factors the PI3K-Akt pathway promotes cell survival and, cell death is facilitated following inhibition of Akt. Many factors influence the function of the Akt-GSK3β signaling dyad, including phosphorylation, protein complex formation and subcellular localization. Previous work had demonstrated that the 90kDa heat shock protein, HSP90, directly binds and stabilizes Akt. Furthermore, several heat shock proteins including HSP90 and HSP105 can …
Pathogenesis And Therapeutic Potential Of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells In Siv/Shiv-Infected Macaques, R Keith Reeves Ii
Pathogenesis And Therapeutic Potential Of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells In Siv/Shiv-Infected Macaques, R Keith Reeves Ii
All ETDs from UAB
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are among the first responders during acute viral infections and are the primary producers of IFN-α, a cytokine known to inhibit viral replication and to activate natural killer (NK) cells. In HIV patients pDCs are decreased in number, are dysfunctional, and can harbor HIV-1 proviruses. However, since the time of transmission is usually unknown, pDC-virus interactions immediately after exposure to HIV remain unclear. Using the SIV/SHIV-macaque model, we showed that an acute and sustained loss of blood pDCs occurred during SIVmac239 infections, and when compared to those from naïve controls, pDCs were also significantly reduced in …
The Role Of Chloride In The Volume Regulation Of Human Glioma Cells, Nola Jean Ernest
The Role Of Chloride In The Volume Regulation Of Human Glioma Cells, Nola Jean Ernest
All ETDs from UAB
According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, the most common primary brain tumors are gliomas, tumors composed of cells of glial origin, most commonly astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The most aggressive of these tumors are characterized by hyperproliferation, marked cellular and nuclear atypia, extensive infiltration into surrounding normal brain tissue, and large areas of cell and tissue death. Previous data published by our lab and others suggest that these biological processes may involve regulated cell volume changes. Using cell volume regulation in the presence of an anisosmotic challenge as a model for cell swelling and shrinkage, cell …
Visualizing The Function And Migration Of T Cells, Kari J. Dugger
Visualizing The Function And Migration Of T Cells, Kari J. Dugger
All ETDs from UAB
Lymphocytes are highly mobile cells that can travel throughout the body in response to a multitude of stimuli. Identifying lymphocyte trafficking patterns in vivo is essential for a complete understanding of immune function. Cell-cell and cell-tissue interactions in immune development and in lymphocyte response to stimuli can be comprehended with these investigations. Although the location of cell populations in various tissues at any given point in time may be investigated by techniques such as flow cytometry and immunofluorescence, these methods are not easily used in the assessment of dynamic cell migration patterns in vivo. In the past years, technologies for …
Protein Interaction And Cell Surface Trafficking Differences Between Wild-Type And Δf508 Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, Rebecca F. Goldstein
Protein Interaction And Cell Surface Trafficking Differences Between Wild-Type And Δf508 Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, Rebecca F. Goldstein
All ETDs from UAB
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutation of one protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which normally functions as a chloride channel at the apical surface of epithelial cells. The most common CFTR mutation results in the deletion of a single amino acid (phenylalanine) at position 508, which causes the protein to fold improperly. The ΔF508 CFTR is a temperature-sensitive (TS) processing mutant: At the restrictive temperature, 37°C, ΔF508 CFTR misfolds in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is degraded, but at the permissive temperature, 27°C, it is “rescued” from degradation (rΔF508). In particular, rΔF508 CFTR folds correctly enough …
Characterization Of A Global Regulatory Pathway In Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Greer E. Kaufman
Characterization Of A Global Regulatory Pathway In Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Greer E. Kaufman
All ETDs from UAB
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a versatile organism that adapts to many different environments in the host. S. pneumoniae can asymptomatically colonize the nasopharynx of humans. However, dissemination of the bacterium from the nasopharynx to different locations in the body can lead to invasive diseases such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis. How S. pneumoniae modulates factors that are important for survival in these niches has not been well characterized. In the studies described here, we propose that S. pneumoniae may modulate gene expression in these niches by sensing the different glu-cose concentrations via carbon catabolite control protein A (CcpA). Initially we characterized …
Mcmv Induced Cerebellar Maldevelopment, Thadeus B. Koontz
Mcmv Induced Cerebellar Maldevelopment, Thadeus B. Koontz
All ETDs from UAB
Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and children. While most of the systemic damage incurred by the infant in the course of the infection resolves without permanent consequence, the pathological manifestations of infection in the central nervous system (CNS) are often permanent. Children born with congenital HCMV infection may exhibit hearing loss and cognitive impairment in various degrees. These neurological disabilities are correlated with pathological findings in various permutations including infection of the inner ear, ventricular calcifications, ventriculomegaly, microgyria, lissencephaly, and cerebellar hypoplasia. To develop a therapeutic or preventive strategy, HCMV …
Relaxation Rate-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quantification Of Myocardial Infarction, Pal Suranyi
Relaxation Rate-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quantification Of Myocardial Infarction, Pal Suranyi
All ETDs from UAB
Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in western societies. Treatment needs to be tailored for each individual, which requires accurate assessment of the underlying pathology. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a relatively young modality in the field of cardiovascular imaging, and boasts with the lack of harmful radiation, excellent soft tissue contrast, and high spatial-temporal resolution. The very foundation of the concept of MRI was the finding that pathology causes changes in the relaxation rates of tissues. Measurement of relaxation rates is more time consuming than generating simple signal intensity images weighted by the longitudinal or transverse …
Genetic And Epigenetic Regulation Of Dihydropyrimidinase And Beta-Ureidopropionase In Individuals With Altered Uracil Catabolism And Normal Dihydro Pyrimidine Dehydrogenase Enzyme Activity, Holly Reed Thomas
All ETDs from UAB
There remain a number of patients presenting with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) toxicity despite normal dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme activity, suggesting possible deficiencies in the two enzymes downstream of DPD in the uracil catabolic pathway: dihydropyrimidinase (DHP), encoded by the DPYS gene, or β-ureidopropionase (BUP-1), encoded by the UPB1 gene. Unlike DPD, which is expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), DHP and BUP-1 enzyme activity is detected in only the liver and kidney, thus requiring an invasive biopsy for determination of activity. This dissertation, therefore, focuses on the role of the genetic and epigenetic regulation of DPYS and UPB1. The genetic …
Effects Of Specific Alterations In Capsule Structure On Streptococcus Pneumoniae Capsule Assembly And Virulence, Bobbi Xayarath
Effects Of Specific Alterations In Capsule Structure On Streptococcus Pneumoniae Capsule Assembly And Virulence, Bobbi Xayarath
All ETDs from UAB
The polysaccharide capsules of Streptococcus pneumoniae represent the most important virulence determinant produced by this organism. Ninety-one different serotypes have been identified, but only a small number of these serotypes are responsible for most of the infections caused by S. pneumoniae. The reasons why certain serotypes predominate in infections over others are not well understood. One common serotype found in invasive diseases is type 2, however, it is unclear what characteristics of a type 2 capsule makes strains producing it virulent. The type 2 capsule consists of repeat units made of a backbone of Glc-Rha-Rha-Rha, with a side chain Glc-GlcUA …
The Characterization Of The Subcellular Localization Of Bile Acid Coa: N-Acyltransferase, Nathan Allen Styles
The Characterization Of The Subcellular Localization Of Bile Acid Coa: N-Acyltransferase, Nathan Allen Styles
All ETDs from UAB
The liver plays a central role in metabolism. It controls protein metabolism through deamination and transamination of amino acids, removal of ammonia through urea synthesis, synthesis of non-essential amino acids and synthesis of the majority of plasma proteins such as albumin. The liver regulates blood glucose levels through glyconeogenesis and glyconeolysis of glycogen, as well as gluconeogenesis from amino acids. It regulates fat metabolism through oxidation of triglycerides and fatty acids, as well as synthesis of cholesterol, lipoproteins, and phospholipids. Furthermore, the liver is the only site of formation of bile acids and their conjugates, physiologically important compounds that solubilize …
In Vivo Imaging Studies In Animal Models Of Myocardial Infarction With And Without Cell Injections, Balazs Ruzsics
In Vivo Imaging Studies In Animal Models Of Myocardial Infarction With And Without Cell Injections, Balazs Ruzsics
All ETDs from UAB
After prolonged myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction occurs. Several tissue changes are associated with myocardial infarction and iron labeled cell injections. In the present thesis our major aim was to develop methods to monitor these tissue changes with MRI and MDCT. In the first chapter we used transendocardial injection to deliver iron labeled allogen skeletal myoblasts one week after myocardial infarction. Our goal was to identify the cells and/or injection sites in the myocardium. We used our new Tissue Characterization Mapping method to delineate tissue edema and hemorrhage in the myocardium. The T2 weighted signal intensity enhancement, T2w SIE region was …
The Role Of Cd5 In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitomyelitis, Robert C. Axtell
The Role Of Cd5 In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitomyelitis, Robert C. Axtell
All ETDs from UAB
The regulation of activation, differentiation and persistence of effector T-cells are critical for the development of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of Multiple Sclerosis. Until now, the function of CD5 was accepted to be a negative regulator of T-cell activation. This dissertation reports that CD5 has an addi-tional role in T-cell responses, which is to promote cell survival. Observations from EAE experiments revealed that mice deficient in CD5 exhibited decreased disease severity which was associated with the inability of activated T-cells to survive. Moreover, block-ing the engagement of CD5 in mice led to enhanced activation induced cell death …
Localization And Function Of G2e3, William Samuel Brooks
Localization And Function Of G2e3, William Samuel Brooks
All ETDs from UAB
A microarray study was performed which identified G2E3 as a novel, putative ubiquitin ligase that was both G2/M-specific in expression and down regulated at the transcriptional level following DNA damage by γ-irradiation. The initial characterization of this protein is described herein. G2E3 is composed of three PHD/RING (plant homoedomain/really interesting new gene) domains within its amino-terminal half and a carboxy-terminal HECT (homologous to E6AP carboxy-terminus) domain. G2E3 is regulated in part by its subcellular localization. The protein normally resides within the nucleoplasm of cultured cells and distinctly within the nucleolus of HeLa cells. G2E3 is a nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling protein with …
The Developmental Functions Of Bdnf And Mecp2 On Dendritic And Synaptic Structure, Christopher A. Chapleau
The Developmental Functions Of Bdnf And Mecp2 On Dendritic And Synaptic Structure, Christopher A. Chapleau
All ETDs from UAB
Mutations in the transcriptional repressor MeCP2 cause Rett Syndrome (RTT), a mental retardation disease associated with reduced dendritic architecture of cortical pyramidal neurons, in addition to a decrease in the number of dendritic spines. I present the first quantification analysis of spine density in postmortem human brain tissue, demonstrating that hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons have reduced spine densities in RTT patients throughout their lives. One gene that MeCP2 regulates is BDNF, an important developmental factor that modulates synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as spine formation and maturation. In immature cultured hippocampal neurons, cell-autonomous expression of BDNF accelerates the differentiation …
Characterization Of A Novel Acetyltransferase Found Only In Pathogenic Strains Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, David K. Crossman
Characterization Of A Novel Acetyltransferase Found Only In Pathogenic Strains Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, David K. Crossman
All ETDs from UAB
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is still a major threat to the human population. Roughly one third of the world population is asymptomatically infected and two million people die each year of TB. Effective treatments are available as a multi-drug regimen, but there is an ever increasing problem with the rise of multi-drug resistant strains that newer drug targets and a better understanding of how M. tuberculosis affects the host need to be elucidated. The primary target of M. tuberculosis in the human host is the macrophage where M. tuberculosis secretes virulence factors that inhibit various signal …
Coupling Selection Of The Hiv- 1 Trna Primer Used For Reverse Transcription With Viral Translation And Encapsidation, Uros V. Djekic
Coupling Selection Of The Hiv- 1 Trna Primer Used For Reverse Transcription With Viral Translation And Encapsidation, Uros V. Djekic
All ETDs from UAB
HIV-1 belongs to the Retroviridae family. A hallmark of retroviral replication is the process of reverse transcription. Viral reverse transcriptase requires placement of a cellular tRNA primer onto the primer binding site (PBS) in order to initiate conversion of the viral RNA genome into a double stranded DNA copy. Mutation of the HIV-1 PBS forces the virus to utilize the non-cognate primer. Even though extensive studies have been done over the past 15 years, the mechanism of HIV-1 primer selection has yet to be completely elucidated. HIV-1 captures free tRNA during a yet undefined step in viral replication. However, our …
A Study Into The Protein/Protein Interactions Involved In Hiv-1 Capsid Assembly, Chanel Catherine Douglas
A Study Into The Protein/Protein Interactions Involved In Hiv-1 Capsid Assembly, Chanel Catherine Douglas
All ETDs from UAB
The aim of this work was to build an understanding of the protein/protein interactions involved in HIV-1 capsid assembly as it relates to the condensation of capsid within the virion. This was undertaken in an attempt to (i) understand how capsid subunits recognize and interact with each other, (ii) gain insight into the protein-protein interactions involved in the process, and (iii) determine if the protein-protein interactions involved in virus cap-sid assembly can be used as a target for viral inhibition. Within this dissertation you will find two approaches to this investigation. The first examines the role of electrostatics in the …
Protease Dysregulation: Role In Neutrophilic Inflammation In Cystic Fibrosis, Amit Gaggar
Protease Dysregulation: Role In Neutrophilic Inflammation In Cystic Fibrosis, Amit Gaggar
All ETDs from UAB
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal disorder characterized by abnormal epithelial ion transport; this disorder is characterized by an ongoing airway remodeling and neutrophilic inflammation. Much of the airway remodeling is due to activation of a group of enzymes known as proteases; human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a prominent protease found in the CF airway. While specific cytokines/chemokines are well-known for their role in the inflammation seen in CF, it is unknown how the protease-rich environment in CF lung disease influences airway inflammation. Recently, our group has characterized a novel collagen-derived fragment, proline-glycine-proline (PGP), which causes neutrophil influx through mechanisms …