Cells Commons^™

Developing A Protocol For Non-Cellular Transplantation Of Donor Mitochondria Into Recipient Cells, Andrew Parton

Honors Theses

Tumor innervation has emerged as a critical feature of cancer progression, with increased nerve density correlating with enhanced aggressiveness, metastatic dissemination, and poor clinical outcome. However, the functional contribution of neurons to tumor biology remains incompletely defined. We recently identified the intercellular transfer of mitochondria from neurons to cancer cells as a mechanism that promotes tumor progression. We therefore hypothesized that disruption of this transfer could attenuate tumor aggressivity. To directly investigate this process, we developed an approach to isolate mitochondria from donor cells and transplant them into recipient cancer cells independently of canonical cell-cell interactions. Transferred mitochondria were tracked …

Evolving Solutions For Red Blood Cell Preservation, Ali Alkafaji, Charles A. Elder, Mohammad Zaidi, Kavin Parthiv, Michael A. Menze

The Cardinal Edge

In emergencies such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, or during outer space missions, the availability of transfusable blood can mean the difference between life and death. Red blood cells (RBCs) must be stored at +4 ± 2 °C and have a shelf life of just 42 days, which makes maintaining a stable blood supply during adverse conditions extraordinarily challenging. This challenge was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when hospitals faced severe blood shortages. Freeze-drying, or lyophilization, offers a promising avenue to extend the shelf life of RBCs for transfusion during crises. However, a significant hurdle in dry preservation is …

The Role Of Extracellular Vesicles As Diagnostic Tools In Gut-Brain Axis Disorders, Patricia Marçal Da Costa, Paulo Iury Gomes Nunes, Gabriella Cunha Vieira Ciurleo, José Wagner Leonel Tavares Junior, Pedro Braga Neto, Ludmila Belayev, Reinaldo Barreto Oriá

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The gut–brain axis represents a dynamic two-way signaling network whose dysregulation has been implicated in a wide range of neurogastrointestinal disorders. In this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as critical mediators of intercellular signaling and as promising non-invasive biomarkers. Derived from host and microbial cells, EVs carry bioactive cargo—including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites—that reflect the physiological or pathological state of their cells of origin. Their ability to cross biological barriers, such as the blood–brain barrier, underscores their potential for diagnosing and monitoring gut–brain axis dysfunctions. In this mini-review, we integrate microbial and brain-derived EVs within the framework …

Synergistic Sensitization Of Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields And Cold Atmospheric Plasma Via Amplifying Ros And Apoptotic Signaling, Zobia Minhas, Edwin A. Oshin, Lifang Yang, Chunqi Jiang, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy, with standard therapies offering limited benefits in advanced stages; thus, novel strategies that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities are urgently needed. Building on our previous findings that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produce enhanced cytotoxicity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying this synergy. Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to nsPEF, CAP, or a combination of both. We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial integrity using metabolic assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic markers were evaluated via Western blotting and caspase …

Intersections Of Art And Medicine, Lina Adwer

EMET Projects

No abstract provided.

Sexually Dimorphic Effects Of Gpnmb Modulation On Vertebral Bone Mass Regulation And Intravertebral Disc Health, Hakem Altawil, Fayez Safadi

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Osteoporosis and vertebral degeneration are major contributors to musculoskeletal morbidity, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating vertebral bone and intervertebral disc (IVD) homeostasis remain incompletely understood. GPNMB (osteoactivin) has been identified as a regulator of bone remodeling, though its role in spine health is unclear. This study evaluated the effects of GPNMB deficiency on lumbar vertebral bone microarchitecture and IVD integrity in a sex-dependent context.

Six-month-old male and female wild-type (WT) and GPNMB knockout (KO) mice were analyzed using micro–computed tomography (µCT) of lumbar vertebrae (L4–L6) and histological assessment of the L5–L6 IVD. KO males exhibited increased bone volume fraction, bone …

Metabolic Reprogramming Following Mitochondrial Transfer Between Idh2-Mutant Chondrosarcoma Cells And A Normal B-Cell Line, Caleb Wyckoff, Christopher Osgood, Ellen Jing, Michael Stacey

Bioelectrics Publications

Background/Objectives: Chondrosarcoma, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and cholangiocarcinoma cancers all contain mutations in the gene isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2). The mutant IDH2 enzyme metabolizes alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) into the potent oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D2HG) in the mitochondria of these cancers, leading to altered cellular metabolism. Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial transfer between cancer and recipient cells represents an important form of intercellular communication that may influence cellular metabolism. The presence of intercellular TNTs between IDH2-mutant chondrosarcoma cells motivated an investigation into mitochondria-associated physiological changes occurring during an intercellular exchange with immune cells. A mitochondrial transfer is a two-way …

Peculiarities Of Phosphatidylserine Externalization By Nano- And Microsecond Electric Pulses, Mantas Silkunas, Alayna Enos, Iurii Semenov, Giedre Silkuniene, Eleni Zivla, Olga N. Pakhomova, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization is a hallmark of apoptosis but can also be triggered within seconds by pulsed electric fields (PEFs). Whether PS reaches the outer leaflet by lateral migration through electropores or indirectly through Ca²⁺-dependent signaling and scramblase activation remains debated. We used total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy with Annexin V-Alexa Fluor 568 and/or bovine lactadherin-FITC to resolve PS externalization in HEK293 cells placed on an indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent electrode. PEF exposures produced discrete PS-positive puncta ("freckles") within ~ 10 s after a 20-µs pulse (1.2-2.5 kV/cm) or with a ~ 1-min delay after a …

Comparative Spatial Biology: A Cross-Species Analysis Of Canine Oral Cancers As Models For Human Disease, Ram Pradhyumnan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), one of the most common malignancies of the oral cavity, remains a clinically challenging disease due to its aggressive behavior, late-stage diagnosis, and limited improvements in therapeutic outcomes over recent decades. A significant barrier to progress in OSCC research and treatment is the lack of suitable preclinical models that recapitulate the complexity and natural progression of the disease. Most current models—including cell lines, xenografts, and genetically engineered mice—fail to capture key features such as the spatial organization of tumor epithelium, interactions with an intact immune system, and the stepwise evolution from normal mucosa to invasive …

Chromnet: A Multi-Task Learning Framework For Cross-Cell Type Prediction Of 3d Chromatin Interactions Using Epigenetic Signals, Bin Wang, Shaokai Wang, Liqing Ding, Hongdong Li, Yaohang Li, Jianxin Wang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The 3D organization of chromatin plays a fundamental role in gene regulation, cellular function, and disease mechanisms. However, current experimental techniques, such as Hi-C, remain costly and labor-intensive, limiting their application in large-scale and disease-related studies. To address this challenge, ChromNet is presented, a multi-task learning framework that integrates epigenetic signals across diverse cell types to enable high-precision prediction of chromatin architecture. By incorporating noise perturbation and auxiliary classification tasks, ChromNet improves the identification of topologically associating domains (TADs) and cell-type-specific chromatin structures, demonstrating superior generalization performance. Notably, ChromNet accurately predicts chromatin interactions in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples by …

Morphological Variation Of The Clavicular Rhomboid Fossa: Bilateral Asymmetry, Sexual Dimorphism, And Environmental Influences, Michaela Tucker, Skylar Hall

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Morphological variation on the clavicle, specifically the rhomboid fossa, may be impacted by age, sex, laterality, and mechanical stress. Occupational stress and loading conditions lead to bone remodeling and adaptation to change, altering the costoclavicular ligament site. A sample of 94 bilateral clavicles from individuals ages 16-40 years was analyzed using computer tomography (CT) and 3-dimensional reconstruction. Clavicles were categorized into five groups: flat, smooth, elevated, depressed, and pitted. Chi-squared analyses were used to test associations between morphology and age, side, and history of strenuous lifting. Significant differences were observed between class and sex for the leftsided clavicle group. Female …

Depemokimab: A Twice Yearly Anti-Il 5 Biologic For Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (Crswnp) - A Narrative Review, Marn Joon Park, Joseph K. Han, Kent K. Lam

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Depemokimab is a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-5 with enhanced binding affinity and an extended terminal elimination half‑life of 6-8 weeks. The unique pharmacodynamic features of depemokimab enable sustained suppression of type 2 inflammation with twice‑yearly subcutaneous dosing. This narrative review provides details of depemokimab's molecular profile, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics and results regarding the clinical efficacy and safety of depemokimab from recently published Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). In 528 severe adult CRSwNP patients (ANCHOR‑1/‑2 trials), depemokimab achieved Δ total endoscopic nasal polyp score by -0.70 (p <  .001) and Δ nasal obstruction verbal response scale by -0.24 (p = .003) at week 52, compared to placebo. Twice‑yearly 100 mg depemokimab provides durable eosinophil suppression and with a safety profile comparable to placebo in Phase 3 trials for CRSwNP. Future work should refine biomarkers and assess comparative cost‑effectiveness and long‑term adherence, safety, and effectiveness.

Successful Use Of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (Car-T) Therapy With Lisocabtagene Maraleucel In A Renal Transplant Recipient With Refractory/Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (Dlbcl), Waqqas Tai, Fatima Chaudhry, Nesreen Shahrour, Jessica Thomas, Afoma Anyadibe, Anuoluwa Oyetoran, Swathi Gopishetty, Precious Idogun, Dilip Samarapungavan, Jassim H. Sarmad, Ishmael Jaiyesimi

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

This case describes a 53-year-old male with end-stage renal disease who developed monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in the form of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after kidney transplantation. Despite initial treatment with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (R-CHOP), the patient's disease progressed, and he was referred for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy with lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel). Given his post-transplant status, his immunosuppressive agents (tacrolimus and mycophenolate) were held, and prednisone was tapered to 5 mg daily to maintain minimal baseline immunosuppression. After lymphodepleting chemotherapy and liso-cel infusion, the patient experienced no significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) …

Neurotensin Drives Theca Cell Migration During Ovulation In Primates, Jessica S. Miller, Megan A. G. Sage, Thomas E. Curry Jr., Diane M. Duffy

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Theca cells are a critical steroidogenic cell type of the ovarian follicle and corpus luteum. The ovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge (or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)) stimulates theca cell relocation from the stroma surrounding the dominant follicle to full integration into the developing corpus luteum. Luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin also stimulates granulosa cells to produce local mediators of ovulation, including the peptide neurotensin (NTS). To determine if hCG-stimulated NTS regulates theca cell relocation within the ovulatory follicle, vehicle or an NTS receptor antagonist was injected into a macaque dominant follicle, and ovaries were removed 48 h after hCG administration. Additional …

Brief Pulses Of High-Level Fluid Shear Stress Enhance Metastatic Potential And Rapidly Alter The Metabolism Of Cancer Cells, Amanda N. Pope, Devon L. Moose, Guy O. Hudson, Hank R. Weresh, Marion R. Dykstra, Aabha Y. Joshi, Patrick Breheny, Eric B. Taylor, Michael D. Henry

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) face challenges to their survival, including mechanical and oxidative stresses that are different from cancer cells in solid primary and metastatic tumors. The impact of adaptations to the fluid microenvironment of the circulation on the outcome of the metastatic cascade is not well understood. Here, we find that cancer cells exposed to brief pulses of high-level fluid shear stress (FSS) exhibit enhanced invasiveness and anchorage-independent proliferation in vitro and enhanced metastatic colonization/tumor formation in vivo. Cancer cells exposed to FSS rapidly alter their metabolism in a manner that promotes survival by providing energy for cytoskeletal remodeling …

Deletion Of Stim1 In Treg Cells Protects Against Lung Fibrosis And Associated Cardiovascular Complications In A Pre-Clinical Mouse Model, Nagaraja Nagre, Balaji Srinivas, Nicholas Richards, Ryan Washington, Gregory Nicholson, Yan Sanders, Beata Kosmider, Khalid Matrougui

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and incurable lung disease characterized by excessive tissue remodeling and impaired gas exchange. Evidence highlights the critical interplay between immune regulation, calcium signaling, and redox biology implications in the pathogenesis of fibrotic lung disease. Regulatory T-cells (Tregs), known to modulate cardiovascular and immune function, are diminished in IPF, contributing to inflammation and tissue damage. Here, we demonstrate that the stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), a key regulator of intracellular calcium homeostasis, is significantly upregulated in Treg cells isolated from IPF patients and mice subjected to bleomycin-induced lung injury. This upregulation is associated with …

Lipid And Foam Cell Accumulation As Novel Pathological Features Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Dita Julianingsih, Samara V. Silver, Thaissa Horne, Kasun Gunawardena, Savannah Ward, Alicia Malewska, Douglas Strand, Julius Nyalwidhe, Ilya Sobol, Petra Popovics

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) encompasses a heterogeneous set of pathological processes that instigate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Using a mouse model of steroid hormone imbalance-induced lower urinary tract dysfunction, we identified luminal lipid-laden foamy macrophages, although their presence and contribution to human pathology have not yet been established. The objective of this study was to determine whether luminal macrophages are associated with human BPH and to assess how lipid accumulation relates to underlying pathological features and clinical parameters.

Methods

Whole-mount tissue sections from simple prostatectomy specimens and prostates from healthy donors were used to evaluate the association of …

The Myopia Epidemic: Integrating Genetic, Environmental, And Epigenetic Pathways To Define A Critical Window For Intervention, Pranavika Balaji

Undergraduate Research Posters

Myopia, or nearsightedness, has increased rapidly worldwide and is now a major public health concern caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Current understanding shows that too much near work, limited time spent outdoors, and prolonged screen use contribute to abnormal eye growth in individuals who may already have a genetic predisposition. At the molecular level, epigenetic changes and shifts in DNA activity, often influenced by environmental conditions, affect the signaling pathways that regulate eye development and may help explain why myopia is increasingly common among children. This paper synthesizes recent environmental, genetic, and epigenetic research to explain how these …

Establishment And Histopathological Characterization Of A Kyse-30 Subcutaneous Xenograft Model Of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Pavel A. Solopov, Alayna Enos, Mantas Silkunas, Giedre Silkuniene, Eleni Zivla, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Olga N. Pakhomova

Bioelectrics Publications

Background/Objectives: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis and limited treatment options, highlighting the need for reliable preclinical models for translational research. Although xenograft models are widely used in cancer biology, systematic characterization of subcutaneous ESCC models under defined implantation conditions remains limited. The objective of this study was to systematically compare implantation conditions and define histopathological and growth-related parameters that enable reproducible tumor establishment while maintaining a practical experimental window for therapeutic studies. Methods: We established and characterized a subcutaneous ESCC xenograft model using human ESCC cell line KYSE-30 implanted into immunodeficient J:NU mice. …

Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields For Extracellular Vesicle Engineering: From Electro-Exocytosis To Cargo Modulation, Art Neal, Teresa Graham, Mohamadmahdi Samandari, Arash Ghorbannia, Anca Dobrian, Stephen J. Beebe, Ruben M. L. Colunga-Biancatelli

Bioelectrics Publications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and medium/large extracellular vesicles (MVs), have emerged as promising therapeutic vectors and diagnostic biomarkers across various branches of biomedicine. However, the clinical translation of EV-based technologies remains constrained by persistent challenges in manufacturing: insufficient yield from primary cell sources, limited control over cargo composition, and the absence of scalable, standardized production platforms. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) represent an emerging biophysical approach that can address several of these limitations. Unlike conventional electroporation, which targets the plasma membrane using microsecond-to-millisecond pulses, nsPEF delivers ultrashort (1–300 ns), high-amplitude (10–300 kV/cm) pulses that penetrate intracellularly …