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Dissecting Macrophage Metabolism In Metabolic Liver Disease, Mandy Mei-Ying Chan

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease around the globe; however, the mechanisms that lead to the progression of metabolic liver disease are poorly understood. Liver-resident macrophages, known as Kupffer cells (KCs), are the largest population of macrophage in the human body, playing a critical role in immune sensing and tissue homeostasis. In the context of MASLD, KCs undergo cell death through an unclear mechanism, and monocytes enter the liver where they differentiate into macrophages. Next-generation sequencing and spatial-omics studies have revealed significant, heterogeneity in the recruited macrophage populations in both human …

Examining Light-Circadian Interactions In Regulation Of Amyloid Plaque Pathology, Melvin William King

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Circadian disruption has long been appreciated as a downstream consequence of Alzheimer’s Disease in humans. However, an upstream role for circadian disruption in regulating AD pathology remains an open question. The mammalian circadian system is hierarchical, with cellular clocks – driven largely by BMAL1 – synchronized by the hypothalamic SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) via a combination of hormonal and synaptic cues. To assess the relative contributions of each component to Alzheimer’s Disease pathology, we crossed mice harboring either microglial (Cx3cr1/Lyz2-Cre) or GABAergic (VGAT-iCre, expressed in more than 95% of the SCN) BMAL1-knockout to mouse models of Aβ aggregation (5xFAD; APP/PS1-21), which …

Retrotransposon Methylation Profiles And Survival In Black Women With High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma, Christelle Colin-Leitzinger, Katherine A Lawson-Michod, Courtney E Johnson, Irma M Vlasac, Sean Yoder, Tania Mesa, Dana Roeber, Chad Huff, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Kristin Haller, Anthony J Alberg, Elisa V Bandera, Melissa Bondy, Michele L Cote, Theresa Hastert, Edward S Peters, Paul D Terry, Andrew B Lawson, Andrew Berchuck, Brooke L Fridley, Jing-Yi Chern, Jennifer A Doherty, Jeffrey R Marks, Joellen M Schildkraut, Brock C Christensen, Lucas A Salas, Lauren C Peres

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Retrotransposons (REs) constitute nearly half of the genome and include long terminal repeat (LTR) elements, Long INterspersed Elements (LINE), and Short INterspersed Elements (SINE). REs are typically silenced in somatic tissues via DNA methylation but can be reactivated through DNA hypomethylation, potentially impacting gene regulation. Here, we investigate genome-scale profiles of RE methylation in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and associations with survival among Black women.

Methods: Methylation levels of LTR, LINE-1, and Alu (type of SINE) in 200 HGSOC tumors were predicted using a random forest approach and clustered using multiple consensus algorithms. Associations between RE methylation clusters …

Ctnna3 Deficiency Promotes Heart Regeneration By Enhancing Cardiomyocyte Proliferation In Neonatal Mice, Sha Zou, Wuhou Dai, Wufan Tao, Jifen Li, Zeyi Cheng, Hongyan Wang

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Heart regeneration requires renewal of lost cardiomyocytes. However, the mammalian heart loses its proliferative capacity soon after birth, and the molecular signaling underlying the loss of cardiac proliferation postnatally is not fully understood.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the role of Catenin alpha 3 (Ctnna3), coding for alpha T catenin (αT-catenin) protein in regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration during the neonatal period.

Methods: Here we report that ablation of Ctnna3 and highly expressed in hearts, accelerated heart regeneration following heart apex resection in neonatal mice.

Results: Our results show that Ctnna3 deficiency enhances cardiomyocyte proliferation …

Health Patterns Of Dementia Caregivers With Chronic Pain: Latent Profile Analysis Of The Promis-29 Measure, Shelbie G. Turner, Dakota D. Witzel, Shana Garza, Karl Pillemer, M Carrington Reid

Human Genetics Publications

We identified patterns of health and functioning in a national sample of dementia family caregivers experiencing chronic pain (N = 273). Utilizing latent profile analysis of the 29-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29), we identified three discrete groups: an average group (48%), a low health challenges group (30%), and a high health challenges group (22%). Women were more likely to be in the high (vs. low) health challenges group. There are discrete health patterns of caregivers with chronic pain, with over 20% reporting comorbid poor health and functioning that may negatively affect caregiving quality. Screening caregivers for high …

Adaptive Crop Switching For Irrigated Agriculture In Response To Climate Change In The Western U.S., Shahryar Fazli, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Rejoice Thomas, Aqil Tariq, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Adaptive irrigation strategies are crucial for balancing water use, economic viability, and food security in the arid Western United States. However, as a key indicator vital in regulating agricultural productivity and crop irrigation, water use efficiency (WUEc) is becoming increasingly complex to estimate due to climate change. This study explores the critical role of key meteorological drivers, such as maximum temperature (tmax) and vapor pressure deficit (vpd), and their impacts on crop-specific WUEc. Future impacts are also assessed through integrating machine learning models with climate projections from the CMIP6 framework under SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5 scenarios to forecast WUEc trends from …

Cultivating The Wild: Strategies For Entrepreneurs Navigating Niche And Specialty Food Markets, Trey Malone, Courtney F. Cooper

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction Consumer demand for authenticity and sustainability in food systems is growing, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs in niche and specialty markets. While wild-foraged and hunted foods are often perceived as more "natural" and sustainable, attempts to scale these products through farming may compromise their perceived authenticity.Methods To explore these dynamics, we conducted discrete choice experiments with a nationally representative sample of 1,039 U.S. consumers. Participants evaluated their willingness to pay (WTP) for salmon, venison, and morel mushrooms, presented in both wild-foraged/hunted and farm-raised forms.Results Consumers exhibited strong preferences for wild versions of all three products, with average …

Effects Of Aerobic Exercise On Physical Fitness In Obesity Using Fox Vs. Tanaka’S Maximum Heart Rate And Percentage Vs. Karvonen Methods, Maninthorn Rugbumrung, Tavarintorn Rukbumrung, Sittiwit Impanya, Adison Thurayot

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 695-711, 2025. The intensity of aerobic exercise is influenced by maximum heart rate (MHR), which can be assessed through an incremental exercise test. However, this method requires specialized equipment and a level of fitness that individuals who are sedentary or overweight may lack. Therefore, estimating MHR using formulas is essential. Various methods exist to calculate MHR, but their effects on fitness in obese individuals remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise using different intensity calculation methods, specifically comparing Fox's and Tanaka's maximum heart rate (MHR) equations, as well as …

Computational And In Vitro Investigation Of P. Crocatum Bioactive Compounds As Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitors, Gusnia Meilin Gholam, Dimas Andrianto, Dewi Anggraini Septaningsih, Mega Safithri

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Obesity, a prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation, can severely affect overall health if left untreated. This study investigated the potential of a 70% ethanol extract from Piper crocatum (red betel) leaves as an in vitro inhibitor of pancreatic lipase (PL), supported by computational analyses to identify alternative compounds to orlistat. The phytochemical profile was characterized using LC-MS/MS, revealing alkaloids and terpenoids with contents of 1.1 ± 0.01 mg CE/g and 3.14 ± 0.3 mg UAE/g, respectively. The extract exhibited 49 ± 9.1% inhibition of PL activity. Molecular docking identified three promising compounds: calanolide A (10.43 kcal/mol), myricanone …

Baseline Testosterone Levels Peak During The Inactive Period In Male Degus (Octodon Degus), Yuta Sato , '26, Tate M. S. Garcia , '26, Josephine S. Low , '27, Carolyn M. Bauer

Biology Faculty Works

The steroid hormone testosterone is important for stimulating male reproductive processes including territory acquisition, mating displays, and spermatogenesis. When examining the relative effects of testosterone on reproductive processes, it is most reasonable to focus on peak baseline testosterone levels, especially for reproductive processes that may occur during specific times of day, such as mating and spermatogenesis. However, some studies have not found consistent positive relationships between circulating testosterone levels and reproductive variables. These nonsignificant relationships could be driven by methodology, as most studies in wild, free-living animals collect blood samples during an animals' active period, yet many species show peak …

Cocoa Polyphenols Alter The Fecal Microbiome Without Mitigating Colitis In Mice Fed Healthy Or Western Basal Diets, Eliza C. Stewart, Mohammed F. Almatani, Marcus Hayden, Giovanni Rompato, Jeremy Case, Samuel Rice, Korry J. Hintze, Abby D. Benninghoff

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Background/Objectives: Chronic inflammation and Western-style diets elevate colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, particularly in individuals with colitis, a feature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diets rich in polyphenol-containing functional foods, such as cocoa, may reduce gut inflammation and modulate the gut microbiome. This study investigated the impact of cocoa polyphenol (CP) supplementation on inflammation and microbiome composition in mice with colitis, fed either a healthy or Western diet, before, during, and after the onset of disease. We hypothesized that CPs would attenuate inflammation and promote distinct shifts in the microbiome, especially in the context of a Western diet. Methods: …

In Silico Prediction Of Cytotoxic T-Cell Epitopes From Helicobacter Pylori Virulence Factors Using An Immunoinformatics Approach, Demy Valerie Chacon, Kiana Alika Co, Daphne Noreen Enriquez, Aubrey Love Labarda, Reanne Eden Manongsong, Edward Kevin B. Bragais

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Helicobacter pylori infects approximately half of the global population, leading to gastric and duodenal ulcers. Despite the availability of antibiotics, challenges such as patient reluctance, high treatment costs, and antibiotic resistance limit their effectiveness, making vaccination a promising alternative. This study used immunoinformatics to identify candidate epitopes for a multiepitope vaccine construct against H. pylori.

Material and methods: The protein variability server was utilized for conservation analysis. The epitopes were screened for antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, cross-reactivity, and population coverage. Selected epitopes were docked with their corresponding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, and thermodynamic quantities were determined. Five virulence …

Spatial Ecology And Habitat Selection Of Eastern Pinesnakes: Case Study On The Importance Of Scale In Conservation Biology, Matthew Grisnik, Alan Jones, Rachel Brubaker, Andrew M. Grosse, Scott L. Parker

Biology

Species are in decline world-wide, driven by multiple factors including habitat fragmentation. Understanding the habitat selection processes of species in these fragmented landscapes has become a focus of ecological studies and is a major component of conservation plan development. However, understanding how landscape level processes influence patterns of habitat selection is often ignored. Here we assessed the influence of landscape level processes in the habitat selection of Eastern Pinesnakes, a species in decline, within a protected area in South Carolina, USA. Over the course of a year, we tracked 8 Eastern Pinesnakes within a small protected area. Snakes exhibited seasonal …

Exploring Immune System Through Computational Modeling: A Comprehensive Study Of Lymph Nodes And Immune Response Scaling, Vaccine Efficacy, And Large-Scale Extreme First Passage Time, Jannatul Ferdous

Computer Science ETDs

The adaptive immune response is a complex defense mechanism that develops over time to recognize and eliminate pathogens with remarkable precision and durability. This dissertation investigates the dynamics, scaling, and efficiency of the adaptive immune response through a synthesis of computational modeling, mathematical analysis, and agent-based simulations. First, we analyze the topology of the lymphatic network and investigate the T cell search time to find the lymph node that is containing the matching dendritic cell. Second we show how the scaling of lymph node number and volume with body mass, leads to scale-invariant search times for T cells locating antigen-bearing …

Gallic, Aconitic, And Crocetin Acids As Potential Tnf Modulators: An Integrated Study Combining Molecular Docking, Dynamics Simulations, Admet Profiling, And Gene Expression Analysis, Adolat Manakbayeva, Ahdrey P. Bogoyavlenskiy, Timur Kerimov, Igor Yershov, Pavel Alexyuk, Madina Alexyuk, Vladimir Berezin, Vyacheslav Dushenkov

Publications and Research

Organic acids, as natural metabolites, play crucial roles in human metabolism and health. Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), a pivotal mediator in immune regulation and inflammation, is a key therapeutic target. We evaluated ten organic acids as TNF modulators using in silico molecular docking, followed by detailed ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) profiling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for three lead candidates: gallic, aconitic, and crocetin acids. Their effects on TNF gene expression were then assessed in vivo using a mouse leukocyte model. The in silico results indicated that crocetin had the highest TNF binding affinity (−5.6 to −4.6 …

A Data Assimilation Framework For Predicting The Spatiotemporal Response Of High-Grade Gliomas To Chemoradiation, Hugo J M Miniere, David A Hormuth, Ernesto A B F Lima, Maguy Farhat, Bikash Panthi, Holly Langshaw, Mihir D Shanker, Wasif Talpur, Sara Thrower, Jodi Goldman, Sophia Ty, Caroline Chung, Thomas E Yankeelov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: High-grade gliomas are highly invasive and respond variably to chemoradiation. Accurate, patient-specific predictions of tumor response could enhance treatment planning. We present a novel computational platform that assimilates MRI data to continually predict spatiotemporal tumor changes during chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: Tumor growth and response to chemoradiation was described using a two-species reaction-diffusion model of enhancing and non-enhancing regions of the tumor. Two evaluation scenarios were used to test the predictive accuracy of this model. In scenario 1, the model was calibrated on a patient-specific basis (n = 21) to weekly MRI data during the course of chemoradiotherapy. A data assimilation …

Targeted Delivery Of Rapamycin Via Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors In Pancreatic Cancer Cells Inhibits Cell Proliferation And Induces Apoptosis, Adeolu S. Oluremi, Christofer Baldwin, Nickolas L. Gustavision, Mujeebat Bashiru, Adeniyi Nsiah Oyebade, Noureen Siraj, Raj Raghavendra Rao, N. Ali

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is aggressive and deadly; most PC cells overexpress an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR-targeting peptide (GE11) was conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for delivering rapamycin (Rap), an mTOR inhibitor that reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis. Biophysical techniques confirmed the conjugation. Rap loading efficiency was 41.5%, with sustained release at a lower pH. Conjugates showed higher uptake in PANC-1 cells than unmodified AuNPs. It also inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis via pathways involving reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage, and caspase activation. This approach represents a promising nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategy targeting PC cells, utilizing GE11-EGFR interactions to minimize …

A Phase I Trial Of Evorpacept, Lenalidomide And Rituximab For Patients With B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Paolo Strati, Lei Feng, Andrey Tyshevich, Darya Shavronskaya, Julia Alesse, Noel English, Elizabeth Sheehan, Nikita Syzrantsev, Alexander Nesmelov, Tony Z Zhuang, Dai Chihara, Jason R Westin, Sairah Ahmed, Luis E Fayad, Jared Henderson, Kylie Dent, Elizabeth Mcchesney, Sattva S Neelapu, Christopher R Flowers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: SIRPα+ macrophages can mediate resistance to lenalidomide and rituximab (R2) in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Evorpacept (ALX148) is a novel CD47 blocker that abrogates interactions between lymphoma cells and SIRPα+ macrophages.

Methods: Adult patients with B-NHL who had received at least 2 prior lines of systemic therapy were included in this single arm phase I study (NCT05025800). Evorpacept was administered intravenously (IV), in a 28-day cycle, until progression, at two dose levels (DL): 30 mg/Kg on day (D) 1 and D15 (DL1), or 60 mg/Kg on day 1 (DL2); rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV was given …

Self-Initiated Action Rescues Visual Targets From Backwards Masking, Amber R. Hopkins, Tian Lan, Aaron Schurger

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

When a visual target is followed by a visual mask stimulus, the target sometimes goes unseen. This is visual masking. In an experiment treating a masked visual stimulus as the sensory outcome of self-initiated action, we demonstrate that self-initiated action can rescue visual targets from backwards masks. Specifically, participants were correct about a visual target more often when the target-mask sequence appeared after their self-initiated action than when its onset was triggered externally. While self-initiated action sometimes induces sensory attenuation, whereby the perception of sensory events that follow actions is dampened, we observed that self-initiated action promotes the perception of …

Assessing The Ecological Drivers And Consequences Of Partial Migration In Hudson River Striped Bass Over Three Decades, Caitlin Egan Zimmer

Biology ETDs

Climate change and shifts in human land use have caused extensive impacts to the connectivity, structure, and resilience of aquatic populations. Partial migration (PM), where only some individuals from a population migrate while the rest remain resident, can mitigate population-level responses to environmental stressors. However, little is known of the underlying mechanisms promoting variation in migration and whether these shift over time. In the Hudson River Estuary, striped bass (Morone saxatilis) are known to exhibit anadromous PM behavior. Here, I measured carbon isotopes (δ¹³C) of essential amino acids in striped bass scales to determine variation in …

The Island Biogeography Of Mangrove-Dwelling Vertebrates: Isolation, Specialisation, And Extinction, Jian Xiong David Tan

Biology ETDs

Mangroves are highly dynamic ecosystems that are widely distributed across the coastlines of the tropics and subtropics. Despite their low plant diversity, mangroves host a disproportionately high number of terrestrial vertebrate taxa. However, mangrove specialists — taxa that only occur in mangrove habitats — exhibit a global distribution that is incongruous with the broader background distribution patterns of mangrove-associated fauna, exhibiting higher diversity in Australia and Southeast Asia. This dissertation therefore aims to assess how the diversity and distribution of mangrove specialist fauna may have been shaped by the historical biogeography of mangroves, and the effects of mangrove specialisation on …

Plant Reproductive Strategies Shift In Response To Restoration Using Beaver Dam Analogs, Laurel F. Martinez

Biology ETDs

As riparian communities become increasingly degraded, restoration treatments are being implemented in streams to recover ecosystem functions. In the Jemez Mountains, beaver dam analogs (BDAs) are used to restore degraded streams by connecting the floodplain and increasing the extent of anoxic soil conditions. These environmental disturbances are expected to alter how riparian plants recruit, particularly their allocation to seed-based and vegetative regeneration strategies. We investigated whether BDAs and associated changes in soil water filled pore space (WFPS) affected riparian plant recruitment. We investigated the number of flowering stems as a proxy for seed-based regeneration and rhizome length and mass as …

Ecoimmunology Of Dirty Physella Acuta Snails, Kevin Arthur Mcquirk

Biology ETDs

Research on Physella acuta, an invasive freshwater snail, reveals insights into its parasitology, fitness, and molecular biology. Morphological and molecular analyses revealed two distinct mitogenomic lineages, local (B) and invasive (A) strains of native P. acuta, both having comparable trematode infection rates, suggesting that the low infection rates observed from A in invaded regions result from "enemy release" rather than immune incompatibility. Fitness assessments showed that while lineages A and B performed similarly under laboratory conditions, rewilding experiments revealed significantly higher fitness in lineage A. Transcriptomic profiling supported these differences, with A snails showing greater immune-related gene expression and …

Elevated Nr2f1 Underlies The Persistence Of Invasive Disease After Treatment Of Braf-Mutant Melanoma, Manoela Tiago, Timothy J. Purwin, Casey D. Stefanski, Renaira Oliveira Da Silva, Mitchell E. Fane, Yash Chhabra, Jelan I. Haj, Jessica L. F. Teh, Rama Kadamb, Weijia Cai, Sheera Rosenbaum, Vivian Chua, Nir Hacohen, Michael A. Davies, Jessie Villanueva, Inna Chervoneva, Ashani T. Weeraratna, Dan A. Erkes, Claudia Capparelli, Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso, Andrew E. Aplin

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Despite the success of targeted inhibitors in cutaneous melanoma, therapeutic responses are limited by the aged tumor microenvironment and drug-tolerant residual cells. Given the similarities between drug tolerance and cellular dormancy, we studied the dormancy marker, nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 (NR2F1), in response to BRAF-V600E inhibitors (BRAFi) plus MEK inhibitors (MEKi) in BRAF-mutant melanoma models. Transcriptomic analysis of melanoma patient samples treated with BRAFi + MEKi showed increased NR2F1. NR2F1 was highly expressed in the drug-tolerant invasive cell state of minimal residual disease in patient-derived and mouse-derived xenografts on BRAFi + MEKi. NR2F1 over-expression was sufficient …

Using Triple Oxygen Isotopes To Investigate Water Usage In Desert Ecosystems, Cloe V. Knutson

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

In arid environments, maintaining water balance can be more critical for survival than obtaining food. As droughts intensify, understanding how animals manage body water is essential. Triple oxygen isotope analysis provides a novel way to trace water sources in animals, distinguishing contributions from free water, food-derived oxygen, and atmospheric O₂. We developed an equilibration method using CO₂–H₂O oxygen exchange and measured δ^’18O and Δ^’17O values via tunable infrared laser direct spectroscopy (TILDAS). Validated against traditional fluorination methods, this technique enables streamlined analysis of whole blood and plant samples. Applied to …

Addressing Head Injuries In High School Football: An Assessment Of Best Practices And Challenges In The Area Of Concussions As Held By New Mexico Activities Association High School Varsity Football Head Coaches And Athletic Directors, Alonzo Maestas

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Youth sports participation in the United States offers children and adolescents opportunities for physical activity, skill development, social interaction, and personal achievement. However, with sports comes the risk of injury, including concussions. Concussions can have serious long-term consequences such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In response to the risks of concussions, New Mexico enacted a concussion law, NM Stat 22-13-31. In addition to this law, the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) and National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) have also given guidance on how to manage concussions.

However, there is a gap in the literature concerning concussion education, best …

Immune Regulation In Fungal Airway Inflammation And Host Defense, Ruoning Wang

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by complex pathophysiological mechanisms and diverse endotypes, primarily categorized as T helper type 2 cell (Th2)-high and Th2-low asthma. Despite significant advances in understanding asthma pathogenesis, the mechanisms governing the pulmonary immune system’s response to external challenges have not been fully understood. To address these gaps, this comprehensive project was designed to investigate the interplay between fungal infections and specific CD4⁺ T cell populations in asthma. Our findings suggest that fungal infections can contribute to neutrophilic asthma by promoting the migration of platelet-myeloid aggregates into the lungs. We also …

Exploration, Expansion, And Optimization Of Bacteriophage Virus-Like Particle Vaccines, Andzoa N. Jamus

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Bacteriophage virus-like particles are highly immunogenic, self-assembling platforms used for various vaccines. This work shows efforts to explore new vaccine candidates against Chlamydia trachomatis, targeting proteins that play critical roles in attachment and entry into the host cell, as well as in pathogenesis and bacteria proliferation. This work also shows the optimization of previously identified candidates, by investigating how altering routes of immunization can change the antibody profiles elicited, both systemically and locally. Finally, this work shows the establishment of various Chlamydia infection models in an effort to expand the ways in which vaccine efficacy can be investigated, particularly …

Non-Mutated Human Tau Stimulates Alzheimer’S Disease-Relevant Neurodegeneration In A Microglia-Dependent Manner, Ethan R Roy, Qiang Wang, Kexin Huang, Sanming Li, Yuanyuan Fan, Estrella Escobar, Constance L Atkins, Shuning Huang, Juan J Herrera, Wenbo Li, Clare Pridans, Xiaobo Zhou, Cynthia Ju, Wei Cao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The accumulation of abnormal, non-mutated tau protein is a key pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite its strong association with disease progression, the mechanisms by which tau drives neurodegeneration in the brain remain poorly understood. Here, we selectively expressed non-mutated or mutated human microtubule-associated protein tau (hMAPT) in neurons across the mouse brain and observed neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, especially associated with non-mutated human tau. Single-nuclei RNA sequencing confirmed a selective loss of hippocampal excitatory neurons by the wild-type tau and revealed the upregulation of neurodegeneration-related pathways in the affected populations. The accumulation of phosphorylated tau was accompanied by …

Glucose Metabolism And Its Direct Action In Cancer And Immune Regulation: Opportunities And Challenges For Metabolic Targeting, Bo-Syong Pan, Che-Chia Hsu, Hsin-En Wu, Yuan-Ru Chen, Xiaobo Zhou, Shu-Chi Wang, Chia-Yang Li, Hui-Kuan Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glucose metabolism is a pivotal hub for cellular energy production and the generation of building blocks that support cell growth, survival, and differentiation. Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to sustain rapid proliferation, survive in harsh microenvironments, and resist therapies. Beyond producing energy and building blocks to meet cancer cell demands, glucose metabolism generates numerous metabolites that serve as signaling molecules, orchestrating signaling pathways and epigenetic modifications that regulate cancer cell phenotypes and immunity. In this review, we discuss how glucose, through its metabolism and direct actions, influences diverse biological processes driving cancer progression and therapeutic resistance, while also exploring metabolic …