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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Autoimmune Responses To Atherosclerotic Lipids: A Study In Murine Models Of Atherosclerosis And Obesity, Hanjing Wu
Autoimmune Responses To Atherosclerotic Lipids: A Study In Murine Models Of Atherosclerosis And Obesity, Hanjing Wu
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
Atherosclerosis is a chronic, complex arterial disease characterized by intimal lipid accumulation and inflammation. A unique lipid-binding molecule, namely cluster of differentiation 1d (CD1d), may impact atherosclerosis. Structurally, CD1d acts as a nonpolymorphic cell-surface receptor, resembling the major histocompatibility complex-I (MHC-I). While MHC-I restricts peptide antigen presentation to T cells, CD1d presents lipid antigens to T cells named CD1d-restrictedd T cells. Although increased expression of CD1d has been found in human plaques, the exact nature of CD1d-recognized lipids in atherosclerosis remains to be determined. Three groups of lipids may undergo oxidation in atherosclerosis producing atherogenic lipids: phospholipids, fatty acids, and …
In Vivo Cellular Mri In Experimental Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury, Laura E. Gonzalez-Lara
In Vivo Cellular Mri In Experimental Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury, Laura E. Gonzalez-Lara
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains one of the most devastating conditions in medicine; it is a complex medical condition with no cure currently available. Inflammation plays an important role in SCI as it can have both beneficial and detrimental effects. Cell therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for SCI due to the potential for stem cells, including multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), for tissue regeneration and immunomodulation of the inflammatory cascade after the initial trauma. However, there are still important, unresolved questions regarding cell therapy that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help to address by producing high-resolution images with …
Gene By Bmi Interactions Influencing C-Reactive Protein Levels In European-Americans, Sarah Tudor
Gene By Bmi Interactions Influencing C-Reactive Protein Levels In European-Americans, Sarah Tudor
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a biomarker indicating tissue damage, inflammation, and infection. High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) is an emerging biomarker often used to estimate an individual’s risk for future coronary heart disease (CHD). hsCRP levels falling below 1.00 mg/l indicate a low risk for developing CHD, levels ranging between 1.00 mg/l and 3.00 mg/l indicate an elevated risk, and levels exceeding 3.00 mg/l indicate high risk. Multiple Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified a number of genetic polymorphisms which influence CRP levels. SNPs implicated in such studies have been found in or near genes of interest including: CRP, APOE, APOC, IL-6, …
Targeting The Endocannabinoid System To Reduce Nociception, Lamont Booker
Targeting The Endocannabinoid System To Reduce Nociception, Lamont Booker
Theses and Dissertations
Pain of various etiologies (e.g., visceral, inflammatory) can be a debilitating disorder that presents a problem of clinical relevance. While it is known that ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the primary psychoactive constituent found in marijuana produces analgesia in various rodent models of pain, its pharmacological properties are overshadowed by its psychomimetic effects. THC is the primary phytocannabinoid found in marijuana though other prevalent constituents such as the phytocannabinoids (e.g., cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)) may possess antinociceptive actions without the psychomimetic effects associated with THC. Indeed, these phytocannabinoids act upon the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that is comprised of the …
A Recombinant Myeloid-Binding Adenovirus For Targeted Pulmonary Gene Therapy, Michael O. Alberti
A Recombinant Myeloid-Binding Adenovirus For Targeted Pulmonary Gene Therapy, Michael O. Alberti
All ETDs from UAB
Inflammation and airway destruction are hallmarks of many debilitating lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), acute lung injury (ALI), and cancer. Gene-based therapeutic interventions that modulate this pathologic inflammatory response are likely to reduce the progressive destruction to lung airways. In this regard, a number of strategies have been evaluated for targeting the pul-monary vasculature; particularly those based on serotype 5 Adenovirus (Ad5). The ad-vantages of Ad over other vector systems include: in vivo stability, low oncogenic poten-tial, and large packaging capacity. Yet, specific and efficient gene delivery to the lung has been hampered …
The Role Of Hiv-1 Proteins In Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, Brian Nelson Giunta
The Role Of Hiv-1 Proteins In Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, Brian Nelson Giunta
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Prevalence of HIV-associated cognitive impairment is rising, the worst form of which is HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The disease is fuiled by a chronic innate type pro-inflammatory response in the brain which is highly dependent upon the activation of microglia. We first created an in vitro model of HAD composed of cultured microglial cells synergistically activated by the addition of IFN-gamma and the HIV-1 coat glycoprotein, gp120. This activation, as measured by TNF-alpha and NO release, is synergistically attenuated through the alpha7nAChR and p44/42 MAPK system by pretreatment with nicotine, and the cholinesterase inhibitor, galantamine. As these medications have been FDA …
The Intestinal Extracellular Matix As An Innate Regulator Of Effector T-Cell Responses, Kayci Renee Huff
The Intestinal Extracellular Matix As An Innate Regulator Of Effector T-Cell Responses, Kayci Renee Huff
All ETDs from UAB
Extracellular matrix (stroma) regulation of mucosal T-cell function is incompletely understood. Here we uncovered a role for intestinal stromal products in the innate regulation of effector T-cells. Stroma-conditioned media (S-CM) derived from normal human intestinal stroma (TGF-&betahi/IL-6lo/IL-1ßlo) significantly down-regulated T-cell proliferation and IFN-&gamma production compared to S-CM derived from inflamed Crohn's mucosa (TGF-&betahi/IL-6hi/IL-1&betahi). Antibody neutralization studies showed that TGF-&beta in normal S-CM inhibited T-cell proliferation and IFN-&gamma production, whereas IL-6 plus IL-1&beta in Crohn's S-CM promoted T-cell proliferation, and the IL-1&beta alone promoted IFN-γ and IL-17 release. Importantly, stromal cells in normal tissue produce TGF-&beta and contribute to mucosal homeostasis …