Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of 830nm Light On Inflammation In Retinitis Pigmentosa, Krystal Marie Bach

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal degenerative disease and the most common cause of blindness in developed countries, affecting approximately 1 in 4,000 people. RP is characterized by photoreceptor cell death and recent studies suggest that chronic inflammation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of RP. Currently, there are no known treatments or preventive measures to delay or halt the loss of photoreceptor cells. Photobiomodulation (PBM) by light in the far-red or near-infrared (NIR) range of the light spectrum has been documented to help promote cell survival and reduce inflammation in several disease states. Recent studies …

Effects Of 670 Nm And 830 Nm Light On The Immune Response To Borrelia Burgdorferi, Felice Chen

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

EFFECTS OF 670 NM AND 830 NM LIGHT ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO BORRELIA BURGDORFERI

by

Felice Chen

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2015

Under the Supervision of Dean T. Nardelli, Ph.D. and Janis T. Eells, Ph.D.

Lyme arthritis is a debilitating joint disorder that arises from Lyme disease, which is a result of infection by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Antibiotics are the traditional treatment for Lyme disease, but chronic arthritis may persist in some patients despite antibiotic treatment. Therefore, other forms of treatment for Lyme arthritis are needed. Photobiomodulation (PBM) using red or near-infrared light, with wavelengths between 630 …

Selection Methods For Genetically-Modified T Cells: In Support Of Translational Therapy, David Rushworth

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

T cells are blood cells which organize the immune system of the host. These cells are necessary for the host to respond appropriately to threats from foreign organisms and cancerous growth. However, in the case of certain infections and cancer, T cells are unable to respond appropriately to a threat and establish immunity. This leads to disease when the infection or cancer is not sufficiently eliminated. On the other hand, T cells can lack tolerance for healthy tissue and perceive healthy tissue as infected. The ensuing over-reactive immune response also leads to disease. A delicate balance must exist between immunity …

The Incidence Of Chagas Coinfections Amongst Acute Dengue Patients In Machala, Ecuador, Elizabeth A. Mcmahon

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Dengue fever is a febrile illness found throughout the tropics that, in severe cases, can be deadly. The most rapidly spreading of any mosquito-borne disease, dengue is re-emerging as an illness of great concern in Latin America and around the globe. The CDC estimates that as many as 400 million cases of dengue occur each year. The pathogenesis of dengue virus is complicated and acts through modulation of the host immune system. Dengue polarizes the immune system balance of T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cells towards a Th1 inflammatory response. Parasitic infections have also been shown …

The Effect Of Statins On Il-33 Mediated Mast Cell Function, Marcela Taruselli

Theses and Dissertations

This study demonstrates original findings of statin effects on IL-33 stimulated mast cells. Statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol production by targeting HMG CoA reductase. These commonly prescribed drugs have been shown to be immunomodulatory. In this study, we have found that pretreatment with statins has a variety of effects on IL-33 stimulated mast cells. Atorvastatin suppresses TNF and IL-6 production, while fluvastatin significantly enhances release of these proinflammatory cytokines in BMMCs. Although they have differing effects on cytokine production, both statins lowered ST2 expression on the cell surface, decreased cell viability, and enhanced expression of …