Immunopathology Commons^™

Glial-Specific Genes Are Strongly Associated With Alzheimer's Disease By Gene-Based Polygenic Risk Score Analysis, Jennifer Zheng, Faria Tavacoli, Tyrell Pratt, Alice Lee, Tingwei Liu, Jingchun Chen

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Methods: Gene-based PRSs were constructed in AD cases and controls within each gene of the glial cells, according to the GWAS summary statistics of European ancestry. In detail, gene-based PRSs were first calculated for each glial cell type-specific gene for AD cases and controls in the discovery dataset (ADc1234ADA) using PRSet software. A meta-analysis with a fixed model was performed when the signal in both datasets was in the same direction. Bonferroni corrections for multiple testing (at α = .05) were used to determine significance within each of the three glial groups. Forest plots were used to visualize the results …

Pathway-Based Polygenic Risk Score Analysis Of Brain Glial Indicates Cell-Type-Specific Roles In Alzheimer's Disease, Tyrell Pratt, Alice Lee, Jennifer Zheng, Faria Tavacoli, Hayley Ho, Tingwei Liu, Jingchun Chen

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and extensive brain pathology, including amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation. This study aims to identify any glial cell type-specific pathways associated with AD.

Methods: We first investigated the correlation between AD and the genetic risk of glia-specific pathways using pathway-based polygenic risk score (PRS) with PRSet software in the discovery data (ADc1234ADA) adjusted by the top two principal components (PC1, PC2) (Model 1), followed by additional adjustment with sex, age, and APOE ε4 count in Model 2. Further PRSet analyses were replicated in independent data …

The Role Of Schwann Cells In Nerve Injury: Forskolin-Mediated Camp Activation Upregulates Tnfα Expression Despite Nf-Κb Downregulation In Lps-Treated Schwann Cells, Caitlyn E. Henry, Angela L. Asirvatham Ph.D.

Student Research Poster Presentations 2023

Although Schwann cells are known to play a role in axonal regeneration following nerve injury and inflammation, the exact mechanism is unknown. This study explores two potential mechanisms: the NF-κB and cAMP pathways. The NF-κB pathway produces cytokines, such as TNFα, to regulate inflammation, whereas the cAMP pathway is anti-inflammatory and regulates Schwann cell proliferation via AKAP95 and cyclin D3. Although it is well-known that NF-κB and cAMP are involved in inflammation, not much is known regarding the effects of forskolin-mediated cAMP activation on LPS-mediated NF-κB activation in Schwann cells. In this study, RT4-D6P2T immortalized rat Schwann cells were treated …

Simulation Of An Inflammatory Model Using Schwann Cells, Caitlyn E. Henry, Peyton Kimmel, Mackenzie Wilcox, Angela Asirvatham

SURF Posters 2022

Schwann cells are a type of glial cell in the peripheral nervous system that produce the myelin sheath surrounding neuronal axons. This myelin insulates the neurons and promotes the rapid conduction of electrical impulses throughout the body. Schwann cells have also been found to play a critical role in neuron repair following nerve injury. During nerve injury, the myelin sheath is damaged, stimulating Schwann cells to release cytokines, or inflammatory mediators, that recruit immune cells to the site of injury so that the myelin debris can be cleared, and repair can take place.1 Then neuronal growth is facilitated by heregulin …

P16-Ki67-Hmb45 Immunohistochemical Profiling May Help Discriminate Between Spitzoid Melanoma And Atypical Spitz Nevi, Robert E. Garola, Vivekanand Singh

Posters

Background

When Spitz nevi have increased vertical thickness (>1.5 MM), show ulceration and deep seated mitosis, the differential diagnostic considerations of atypical Spitz nevus (ASN) or a Spitzoid melanoma (SM) enter into consideration. While expert consultation from a dermatopathologist is most often sought to resolve the differential diagnosis, it could be expensive and time consuming. Recently, the use of molecular genetic testing has also been advocated in the work group up of atypical melanocytic proliferations. On the contrary, immunohistochemistry is a more routinely used technique in most pathology centers may be more simple to apply. A single immunohistochemical marker …

Characterization Of A Putative Hemolysin Expressed By Sneathia Amnii, A Preterm Birth-Associated Pathogen, Lizette Carrasco, Kimberly Jefferson

UROP Posters

The gram-negative bacteria Sneathia amnii is a poorly-characterized commensal of the female urogenital tract frequently associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), amnionitis, and preterm labor. To investigate its potential role in virulence, we sought to identify and characterize virulence determinants produced by S. amnii in an effort to better understand the pathogenesis of infectious preterm birth. Through sequencing of the Sn35 genome (type strain of S. amnii), we identified two genes with amino acid sequence similarity and structural similarity to the filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) protein of Bordetella pertussis and its Type Vb transporter. Because S. amnii …