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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
The Role Of Macrophages In Pressure-Overload Induced Cardiac Remodeling, Bindiya Dinesh Patel
The Role Of Macrophages In Pressure-Overload Induced Cardiac Remodeling, Bindiya Dinesh Patel
All ETDs from UAB
Cardiac pressure-overload is a state of increased hemodynamic load and is initially characterized by concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, but can transition to eccentric hypertrophy and adverse LV remodeling leading to heart failure (HF). Cardiac remodeling during pressure-overload is accompanied by dysregulated collagen deposition, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and increased inflammatory signaling. Both clinical and preclinical studies have documented increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and leukocyte infiltration in the pressure-overloaded heart, indicating inflammatory mechanisms are active during cardiac remodeling. Despite the well-known link between leukocyte infiltration and exacerbated tissue injury, the role of innate immune cells, particularly monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells, …
Activation Of Ampk To Diminish Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury, Nathaniel Bone
Activation Of Ampk To Diminish Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury, Nathaniel Bone
All ETDs from UAB
Sepsis is the most frequent cause of death of hospitalized patients in modern ICUs. Severe infection, trauma, hemorrhage, burns, and surgery are significant causes of multi-organ injury and immune dysfunction that in turn primes for a high risk of secondary lung infections. In addition to detrimental inflammation, sepsis is linked to loss of metabolic plasticity due to mitochondrial dysfunction in immune cells and lung tissue. In particular, mitochondrial failure in lungs of critically ill septic patients is correlated with high mortality rates. We proposed that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, a major bioenergetic sensor and metabolic regulator, is a plausible …
Streptococcus Pneumoniae In The Heart Subvert The Host Response Through Biofilm-Mediated Resident Macrophage Killing, Anukul T. Shenoy
Streptococcus Pneumoniae In The Heart Subvert The Host Response Through Biofilm-Mediated Resident Macrophage Killing, Anukul T. Shenoy
All ETDs from UAB
During invasive disease, blood circulating Streptococcus pneumoniae are capable of invading the heart and forming bacteria filled cardiac microlesions. These microlesions are devoid of immune cells and disruptive of cardiac functionality. While the mechanisms underlying pneumococcal invasion of the myocardium are well-described, how the heart-invaded pneumococci evade immune detection and clearance is unknown. Since its discovery in 1881, invasive pneumococcal disease has been associated with the presence of extracellular diplococci or short chains in affected tissues. Herein, we show that heart-invaded pneumococci replicate within cellular vesicles and transition into biofilms. Although the host cell permissible for intracellular replication is yet …
The Functional Role Of Toll-Like Receptor 4 In The Renal Microcirculation., Justin Pieter Van Beusecum
The Functional Role Of Toll-Like Receptor 4 In The Renal Microcirculation., Justin Pieter Van Beusecum
All ETDs from UAB
Renal autoregulation is an intrinsic property of afferent arterioles that maintains a stable RBF, glomerular capillary pressure, and GFR, while protecting the glomeruli against fluctuations in arterial pressure. Recently it has been reported that immune system activation and inflammation have been linked to impairment of renal autoregulatory behavior. Evidence suggests that activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays an important role in the progression of AKI and CKD. The contributions of innate immune system activation, TLR4 and renal autoregulatory dysfunction remain unknown. This dissertation explores the novel concept that both acute and chronic TLR4 activation leads to the attenuation of …