Digital Commons Network^™

Acute Effect Of Hemodialysis On Arterial Elasticity, Sai̇m Sağ, Di̇lek Yeşi̇lbursa, Abdulmeci̇t Yildiz, Kami̇l Di̇lek, Tunay Şentürk, Osman Akin Serdar, Ali̇ Aydinlar

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Reduced arterial elasticity is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Hemodialysis (HD) treatment per se can bring additional risk factors for vascular disease. Our study was designed to determine whether a single hemodialysis session leads to an acute alteration in parameters of arterial elasticity in ESRD. Materials and methods: In this study, 58 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis and 29 healthy controls were enrolled. Large artery elasticity index (LAEI) and the small artery elasticity index (SAEI) were measured by applanation tonometry. The acute effect of a hemodialysis session on arterial elasticity indices was assessed …

Relationship Between Heat-Labile Enterotoxin Secretion Capacity And Virulence In Wild Type Porcine-Origin Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli Strains, Prageeth Wijemanne, Jun Xing, Emil M. Berberov, David H. Francis, Rodney A. Moxley

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) is an important virulence factor secreted by some strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The prototypic human-origin strain H10407 secretes LT via a type II secretion system(T2SS). We sought to determine the relationship between the capacity to secrete LT and virulence in porcine-origin wild type (WT) ETEC strains. Sixteen WT ETEC strains isolated from cases of severe diarrheal disease were analyzed by GM1ganglioside enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay tomeasure LT concentrations in culture supernatants. All strains had detectable LT in supernatants by 2 h of culture and 1 strain, which was particularly virulent in gnotobiotic piglets (3030-2), had …

Characterization Of Stard4 And Stard6 Proteins In Human Ovarian Tissue And Human Granulosa Cells And Cloning Of Human Stard4 Transcripts, Aisha Shaaban

Theses and Dissertations

Progesterone is essential hormone for pregnancy, which is produced by the human corpus luteum in early pregnancy until the placenta assumes this function. Transport of the cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane is the rate limiting step for the de novo synthesis of pregnenolone (the precursor to progesterone), a process mediated by STARD1. STARD1 contains a C-terminal lipid binding domain which binds cholesterol and an N-terminal domain targeting STARD1 to the mitochondrial membrane. Unlike STARD1, STARD4 and STARD6 proteins lack a mitochondrial targeting sequence; however, they can bind cholesterol and increase steroidogenesis in model systems. In this …

The Effects Of Curcumin On The Expression Of P53 And Bcl-2 Oncoproteins On The Human Breast Carcinoma Cell Line Mda-Mb 468, Angelin S. Shajan

Theses and Dissertations

We studied the effects of curcumin on the proliferation and viability of MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells and its effects on the expression ofBcl-2 and p53 proteins in these cells. Based on previous studies, we predicted a dose-dependent increase in p53 (tumor suppressor) expression, and a decrease in Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic oncoprotein) expression. Briefly, MDA-MB468 cells were seeded into 12-well plates at 2.0 * 104 cells/well and allowed to grow for 72 hrs. Cells were treated with curcumin at 0, 25, 50 and 100 pM in triplicate at time zero and cultured for another 24 hours. All data were obtained using a …

Design, Synthesis, Antiviral Activity, And Pre-Formulation Development Of Poly-Larginine- Fatty Acyl Derivatives Of Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, Bhanu P. Pemmaraju, Swapnil Malekar, Hitesh K. Agarwal, Rakesh Tiwari, Donghoon Oh, Gustavo F. Doncel, David R. Worthen, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The objective of this work was to design conjugates of anti-HIV nucleosides conjugated with fatty acids and cell-penetrating poly-L-arginine (polyArg) peptides. Three conjugates of polyArg cell-penetrating peptides with fatty acyl derivatives of alovudine (FLT), lamivudine (3TC), and emtricitabine (FTC) were synthesized. In general, the compounds exhibited anti-HIV activity against X4 and R5 cell-free virus with EC50 values of 1.5–16.6 μM. FLT-CO-(CH2)12-CO-(Arg)7 exhibited EC50 values of 2.9 μM and 3.1 μM against X4 and R5 cell-free virus, respectively. The FLT conjugate was selected for further preformulation studies by determination of solution state degradation and lipid solubility. The compound was found to …

Overexpression Of Human Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase In Mice; The Effect Of Increase Superoxide Scavenging On Autonomic Control Of The Heart., Jeffrey Hatcher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dysregulation of the autonomic cardiovascular control is a complication of diseases including diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and aging. A common factor in these conditions is an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neural, cardiac, and endothelial tissues. Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is an intracellular anti-oxidant enzyme that catalyzes dismutation of the superoxide anion (O2.-) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Expression and function of this enzyme are diminished in pathologies that impair cardiovascular autonomic control. This study employed mice overexpressing a transgene for human SOD1 (hSOD1) to determine if its overexpression would alter autonomic regulation of BP, HR, and BRS in …

Effects On Quinolone Resistance Due To The Biofilm Formation Activity In Ureaplasma Urealyticum, Chunyan Feng, Ya Huang, Yunsong Yu, Guorong Duan, Yuying Dai, Ke Dong, Qingtian Li

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To detect the effects on quinolone resistance due to biofilm formation activity in Ureaplasma urealyticum. Materials and methods: An improved checkerboard dilution susceptibility test was used to analyze the quinolone resistance of clinical Ureaplasma isolates and a postbiofilm formation susceptibility assay was used to compare the effects on the quinolone susceptibility between pre- and postbiofilm formations. Several important functional gene expressions were detected to evaluate their roles in the process of the quinolone resistance mechanism. Results: The quinolone-resistant isolates produced more biofilms than the sensitive isolates. In both the quinolone-resistant and -sensitive groups, the minimal inhibitory concentrations after biofilm formation …

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Protects Lung Alveolar Epithelial Cellsfrom Cigarette Smoke-Induced Damage, Firat Bariş Barlas, Suat Erdogan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To evaluate the influence of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on cigarette smoke (CS)-induced cell damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in human alveolar epithelial cells. Materials and methods: A549 alveolar epithelial cells were divided into control, CS exposure, CAPE, and CS+CAPE treatment groups. Undiluted CS-exposed medium (100%) and three dilutions (50%, 25%, and 10%) of CS-exposed media were applied to cultured A549 cells, which were analyzed after 3 h of incubation. Viability was measured by MTT assay, the gene expressions were evaluated by real-time PCR, and spectrophotometric techniques were used for biochemical assessments. Results: While CS exposure markedly reduced …

Comparison Of The Contamination Rates Of Culture Media Used For Isolation And Identification Of Dermatophytes, Ramazan Gümral, Ayli̇n Döğen, Mehmet Maci̇t İlki̇t

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Mycological media that promote spore production are essential for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis. However, these culture media frequently become contaminated by multiple fungal or bacterial species during culture. The aim of this study was to compare the contamination rates of 6 culture media used for the isolation and identification of dermatophytes, including Borelli's lactritmel agar (BLA), brain-heart infusion agar (BHIA), Lowenstein-Jensen agar (LJA), malt extract agar (MEA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), and Sabouraud glucose agar (SGA). Materials and methods: Agar plates were inoculated with 43 well-characterized dermatophyte strains, belonging to the genera Arthroderma, Epidermophyton, Microsporum, or Trichophyton. The agar …

Assessment Of Bloodstream Infections And Risk Factors In An Intensive Care Unit, Aynur Süner, İlkay Karaoğlan, Ayşe Özlem Mete, Mustafa Namiduru, Vuslat Boşnak, İbrahi̇m Baydar

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Nosocomial bloodstream infection (BSI) increases mortality rates, duration of stay in hospital, and treatment costs. This study was conducted to determine the rate and the risk factors of BSIs among intensive care unit patients. Materials and methods: Sixty-four patients with BSIs (patient group) and 79 patients without a nosocomial infection (control group) were enrolled in the study. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria were used for diagnosing BSIs. Potential risk factors were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression model. Results: The BSI development rate was 15.7% (64/407), with an incidence rate of 18.2/1000 patient days. Distribution of pathogens among …

Tumor-Derived Proteins And Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Lung Cancer-Induced Cachexia, Julie B. Mclean

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Lung tumors secrete multiple factors that contribute to cachexia, a severe wasting syndrome that includes loss of muscle mass, weakness, and fatigue. 80% of advanced lung cancer patients experience cachexia, which cannot be reversed by nutritional interventions, diminishes response to and tolerance of cancer treatments, and increases morbidity and mortality. Despite a multitude of clinical trials, there are currently no approved treatments. This deficiency suggests that not all of the factors that contribute to cachexia have been identified.

Cancer is frequently accompanied by an increase in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a hallmark of inflammation. Clinical trials for COX-2 inhibitors have resulted in …

Enhanced Cgmp-Dependent Signaling In Astrocytes: Novel Therapeutic Target In Alzheimer's Disease, Nyema M. Woart

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Over five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), with an expected 34% increase in the incidence in this disease over the next decade. Unfortunately, there is no cure for AD. Recent studies have indicated that drugs which increase the levels of cyclic guanosine-3’5’-monophosphate (cGMP) may help preserve learning and memory in AD and enhance cognition in the aging brain; however, the mechanism(s) of how cGMP exerts this beneficial effect is unknown. The present findings now suggest that elevation of cGMP in astrocytes depresses inhibitory potassium currents in these cells to stimulate their protective influence on neuronal activity. Cellular currents …

Drug Interactions With Glutaredoxin Orthologues, Kahlilah R. Napper, Thomas C. Leeper, Ram Khattri, Daniel Morris, Caroline Davis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Glutaredoxin, an enzymatic protein, is an important component of cell viability and function. It catalyzes reactions involved in DNA synthesis and innate immunity [1,4]. Glutaredoxin is also essential in antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacterial species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa in particular is responsible for infecting the lung tissue of its human hosts, resulting in the development of pneumonia and cystic fibrosis [3]. Because glutaredoxin is pertinent in cell proliferation of eukaryotic and bacterial cells alike, medicinal fragments that take advantage of the subtle differences in protein structure of the orthologous proteins can be synthesized and enhanced to bind bacterial glutaredoxins, without inhibiting …

Intentions And Attitudes Towards Parenthood And Fertility Awareness Among Chinese University Students In Hong Kong: A Comparison With Western Samples, C. H. Y. Chan, T. H. Y. Chan, Brennan Peterson, C. Lampic, M. Y. J. Tam

Marriage and Family Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

STUDY QUESTION What are the levels of awareness regarding female fertility and the intentions and attitudes towards parenthood among Chinese university students in Hong Kong compared with their counterparts in the West?

SUMMARY ANSWER Chinese university students in Hong Kong were similarly over-optimistic about the age-related fertility decline, although they were less inclined to have children and undergo fertility treatment compared with their Western counterparts.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Past studies of highly educated young adults in Europe and the USA have found that they are not sufficiently aware of the age-related decline in female fertility, and falsely believe that …

Expression Of Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli Map Is Significantly Different Than That Of Other Type Iii Secreted Effectors In Vivo., Mai Nguyen, Jason Rizvi, Gail Hecht

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE)-encoded effectors EspF and Map are multifunctional and have an impact on the tight junction barrier while the non-LEE-encoded proteins NleH1 and NleH2 possess significant anti-inflammatory activity. In order to address the temporal expression of these important genes in vivo, their promoters were cloned upstream of the luxCDABE operon, and luciferase expression was measured in EPEC-infected mice by bioluminescence using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Bioluminescent images of living mice, of excised whole intestines, and of whole intestines longitudinally opened and washed were assessed. The majority of bioluminescent bacteria localized …

Pacap And Cocaine Reinstatement: A Neuropeptide Expressed By Corticostriatal Neurons That Regulates Nucleus Accumbens Astrocytes, Linghai Kong, E. Hess, Brian Maunze, Matthew M. Hurley, Khadijah Makky, Sujean Choi, John R. Mantsch, David A. Baker

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Drug addiction involves heightened relapse vulnerability arising from persistent drug-induced neuro-adaptations, including a) hypofrontality which is thought to reflect reduced firing of cortical afferents to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and b) altered glutamate homeostasis in NAcc that likely involves reduced glutamate release and uptake by astrocytes. An important question is whether these forms of pathological plasticity are functionally linked such that reduced corticostriatal firing may result in aberrant regulation of astrocytes in the NAcc. To begin to evaluate this possibility, we first determined whether neurons regulate system xc- (Sxc) activity, a mechanism of non-vesicular glutamate release by astrocytes. We found …

Strategies For Preventing Age And Neurodegenerative Disease-Associated Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Vedad Delic

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the development of aging phenotypes and aging-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Strategies that restore mitochondrial dysfunction may rescue the deficits of central metabolism in these disorders and improve cell survival. For example, we found that modulating the mTOR signaling pathway in a tissue culture model of aging-induced mitochondrial DNA mutation enhanced mitochondrial function as evidenced by increased oxygen consumption. Our previous melatonin studies also led us to hypothesize that caloric restriction and the hormone melatonin would reverse brain mitochondrial dysfunction in animal …

Gadolinium Modifies The Cell Membrane To Inhibit Permeabilization By Nanosecond Electric Pulses, Elena C. Gianulis, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Lanthanide ions are the only known blockers of permeabilization by electric pulses of nanosecond duration (nsEP), but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We employed timed applications of Gd³⁺ before or after nsEP (600-ns, 20 kV/cm) to investigate the mechanism of inhibition, and measured the uptake of the membrane-impermeable YO-PRO-1 (YP) and propidium (Pr) dyes. Gd³⁺ inhibited dye uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition of Pr uptake was always about 2-fold stronger. Gd³⁺ was effective when added after nsEP, as well as when it was present during nsEP exposure and removed afterward. Pores formed by nsEP in …

Goal Achievement In Young Adults With Asperger Syndrome And High Functioning Autism, Melissa Racobaldo

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate perspectives of young adults with Asperger syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) regarding supports and services, future goals, and confidence in their success. The goal of this study was to identify valuable supports and areas in which this support was lacking. Identifying areas of support for young adults with AS/HFA transitioning into adulthood aids in providing consistent services for successful goal achievement. The study has value among genetic counselors as the discovery of genetic etiologies of autism has led to referral of families with ASD to the genetics clinic. Methods: Young adults with …

Mutations In The 5’ Ntr And The Non-Structural Protein 3a Of The Coxsackievirus B3 Selectively Attenuate Myocarditogenicity, Chandirasegaran Massilamany, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Rakesh H. Basavalingappa, Rajkumar A. Rajasekaran, Hiep Vu, Jean-Jack Riethoven, David Steffen, Asit K. Pattnaik, Jay Reddy

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The 5’ non-translated region (NTR) is an important molecular determinant that controls replication and virulence of coxsackievirus B (CVB)3. Previous studies have reported many nucleotide (nt) sequence differences in the Nancy strain of the virus, including changes in the 5’ NTR with varying degrees of disease severity. In our studies of CVB3-induced myocarditis, we sought to generate an infectious clone of the virus for routine in vivo experimentation. By determining the viral nt sequence, we identified three new nt substitutions in the clone that differed from the parental virus strain: C97U in the 5’ NTR; a silent mutation, A4327G, in …

Association Of Autophagy In The Cell Death Mediated By Dihydrotestosterone In Autoreactive T Cells Independent Of Antigenic Stimulation, Ting Jia, Annandurai Anandhan, Chandirasegaran Massilamany, Rajkumar A. Rajasekaran, Rodrigo Franco, Jay Reddy

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Gender disparity is well documented in the mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced with proteolipid protein (PLP) 139–151, in which female, but not male, SJL mice show a chronic relapsing-remitting paralysis. Furthermore, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has been shown to ameliorate the severity of EAE, but the underlying mechanisms of its protective effects are unclear. Using major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II dextramers for PLP 139-151, we tested the hypothesis that DHT selectively modulates the expansion and functionalities of antigen-specific T cells. Unexpectedly, we noted that DHT induced cell death in antigen-specific, autoreactive T cells, but the effects were not …

Haemorrhagic Colitis Associated With Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia Coli O165:H25 Infection In A Yearling Feedlot Heifer, Rodney A. Moxley, Zachary R. Stromberg, Gentry L. Lewis, John D. Loy, Bruce W. Brodersen, Isha R. Patel, Jayanthi Gangiredla

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Introduction: Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) cause haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome in humans. Although EHEC infection typically results in haemorrhagic colitis in all ages of human patients, in cattle it is usually limited to 1- to 5-week-old nursing calves.

Case Presentation: A 1-year-old feedlot beef heifer was moribund with neurological signs and bloody diarrhoea. At necropsy, the colonic mucosa contained multiple grossly visible haemorrhagic erosions, each measuring <1 mm in diameter. Histologically, foci corresponding to the gross erosions had E. coli O165 antigen-positive bacterial rods adherent to the apical surfaces of degenerate and necrotic colonic mucosal epithelial cells in association with attaching and effacing lesions, and also within cytoplasmic vacuoles in …

Mri-Compatible Bioreactors And Methods Of Using, Shadi Othman, Huihui Xu, Karin Wartella, Vahid Khalilzad-Sharghi, Ian Bargar

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

This disclosure describes a MRI-compatible bioreactor that allows a biological sample to be imaged in culture without disrupting or compromising the culture.

Timp-1 Activates A Unique Cardiac Stem Cell Population, Cd63+Ve/C-Kit+Ve, Thereby Enhancing Cardiac Differentiation, And Protects The Heart From Adverse Cardiac Remodeling Following Myocardial Infarction, Latifa Abdelli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We previously demonstrated that embryonic stem (ES) cells over-expressing tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) have increased potential to engraft and differentiate into cardiac myocytes following transplantation into the infarcted heart. However, the ability of TIMP-1 to activate endogenous stem cells and enhance their differentiation into cardiac regenerative cell types is still unknown. We postulate that TIMP-1 may additionally activate a stem cell population that enhances cardiac cell type differentiation in the infarcted myocardium. To prove this hypothesis, we isolated c-kit+ve cells from four weeks old C57BL/6 mice and cultured them in vitro in presence of ES conditioned media (ESCM), ES-TIMP-1-CM …

Regulation Of System XC- By Pharmacological Manipulation Of Cellular Thiols, Rebecca Albano, Nicholas J. Raddatz, Julie Hjelmhaug, David A. Baker, Doug Lobner

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The cystine/glutamate exchanger (system x_c^-) mediates the transport of cystine into the cell in exchange for glutamate. By releasing glutamate, system x_c^- can potentially cause excitotoxicity. However, through providing cystine to the cell, it regulates the levels of cellular glutathione (GSH), the main endogenous intracellular antioxidant, and may protect cells against oxidative stress. We tested two different compounds that deplete primary cortical cultures containing both neurons and astrocytes of intracellular GSH, L-buthionine-sulfoximine (L-BSO), and diethyl maleate (DEM). Both compounds caused significant concentration and time dependent decreases in intracellular GSH levels. However; DEM caused an increase …

Impairment Of The Gliovascular Unit In Neurological Disease, Ian Kimbrough

All ETDs from UAB

Cerebral blood flow is regulated by vasoactive molecules released by astroglial cell processes that ensheath the entire cerebrovasculature. This regulation of blood flow in response to neuronal activity is a process known as functional hyperemia. Astrocytes, along with their associated neurons and microvessels, are organized into a functional system called the gliovascular unit (GVU). The astroglial component of the GVU is integral in both regulation of blood flow and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In disease, this system can be disrupted. We found that glioma cells displace astrocytic processes, called endfeet, and prevent their communication with associated vessels, leading …

Bcla As An Adjunct To Current Bacillus Anthracis Vaccination And Therapy Protocols, Juan Bosco Rodriguez Barrantes

All ETDs from UAB

Bacillus anthracis (Ba) is a Gram,-positive zoonotic bacterium that causes inhala- tional, cutaneous and intestinal Anthrax Disease. Although the infectious form of Ba is its endospore (spore), only the tripartite toxin-producing vegetative bacteria causes disease pathology. While current vaccination strategies target the Protective Antigen (PA) com- ponent of this toxin, vaccine-elicited immunity to the spore form of Ba is lacking. How- ever, vaccines targeting spore components of Ba have the potential to neutralize the in- fectious form of Ba. We sought to determine if antibodies elicited through immunization with the main antigenic component of the spore surface- Bacillus collagen-like protein …

Investigating The Role Of Myristoylated Alanine Rich C Kinase Substrate's (Marcks's) Effector Domain In Lung And Brain Cancer Biology, Timothy D. Rohrbach

All ETDs from UAB

In this study, we investigated the role MARCKS's Effector Domain plays in lung and brain cancer biology. Initially, we identified that MARCKS was present in a range of lung cancer histologies including: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, and normal lung tissues among others. In addition, lung adenocarcinoma patients with a mutation in the MARCKS gene correlated with decreased survival as determined by The Cancer Genome Atlas. In vitro studies identified that the phosphorylation status of MARCKS's Effector Domain was able to influence lung cancer radiation sensitivity. When MARCKS's Effector Domain was in a non-phosphorylated state, A549 lung cancer cell lines experienced increased …

The Mechanism Of Small Molecule Viral Fusion Inhibitors, Michael Joseph Rowse

All ETDs from UAB

All negative stranded RNA viruses (NSRV) have genomes encapsidated by oligomerized nucleoprotein (N). The N-RNA complex acts as the template for both transcription and replication. The crystal structure of the N protein from the model NSRV vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) established the structural basis for the oligomerization of N-protein and the encapsidation of RNA. To determine how the structure of N protein changes in response to specific sequences of RNA, we developed a strategy to digest the random RNA encapsidated in the recombinant N-protein and reencapsidated specific RNA sequences. Poly-rA, poly-rC, poly-rU, and poly-rG sequences were encapsidated and co-crystallized with …

Stat4 Regulates Multiple Pathogenic Mechanisms Of Cd4 T Cells In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, A Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Ian Lee Mcwilliams

All ETDs from UAB

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease whereby the host immune system fails to recognize self vs non-self and targets myelin of the central nervous system. Currently there is no permanent cure for MS and the efficacy of immune modulatory treatments often wane over time, therefore we seek to determine novel pathogenic mechanisms to target therapeutically. CD4 T cells have been found within inflammatory CNS lesions of MS patients and are believed to be important mediators of MS pathology. To study CD4 T cells in the context of MS, we use the well-defined MS mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). …