Publications -- Rebecca Cunningham
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/31663
This collection is limited to articles published under the terms of a creative commons license or other open access publishing agreement since 2016. It is not intended as a complete list of the author's works.
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Browsing Publications -- Rebecca Cunningham by Subject "cornea"
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Item Novel Correlation between TGF-beta1/-beta3 and Hormone Receptors in the Human Corneal Stroma(MDPI, 2023-09-09) Choi, Alexander J.; Hefley, Brenna S.; Nicholas, Sarah E.; Cunningham, Rebecca L.; Karamichos, DimitriosThis study investigated the interplay between transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1/T1 and TGF-beta3/T3), and sex hormone receptors using our 3D in vitro cornea stroma model. Primary human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs) from healthy donors were plated in transwells at 10(6) cells/well and cultured for four weeks. HCFs were supplemented with stable vitamin C (VitC) and stimulated with T1 or T3. 3D construct proteins were analyzed for the androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), KiSS1-derived peptide receptor (KiSS1R/GPR54), and follicle-stimulating hormone subunit beta (FSH-B). In female constructs, T1 significantly upregulated AR, PR, ERalpha, FSHR, GnRHR, and KiSS1R. In male constructs, T1 significantly downregulated FSHR and FSH-B and significantly upregulated ERalpha, ERbeta, and GnRHR. T3 caused significant upregulation in expressions PR, ERalpha, ERbeta, LHR, FSHR, and GNRHR in female constructs, and significant downregulation of AR, ERalpha, and FSHR in male constructs. Semi-quantitative Western blot findings present the interplay between sex hormone receptors and TGF-beta isoforms in the corneal stroma, which is influenced by sex as a biological variable (SABV). Additional studies are warranted to fully delineate their interactions and signaling mechanisms.Item The Role of Estriol and Estrone in Keratoconic Stromal Sex Hormone Receptors(MDPI, 2022-01-14) Escandon, Paulina; Nicholas, Sarah E.; Cunningham, Rebecca L.; Murphy, David A.; Riaz, Kamran M.; Karamichos, DimitriosKeratoconus (KC) is a progressive corneal thinning disease that manifests in puberty and worsens during pregnancy. KC onset and progression are attributed to diverse factors that include: environmental, genetics, and hormonal imbalances; however, the pathobiology remains elusive. This study aims to determine the role of corneal stroma sex hormone receptors in KC and their interplay with estrone (E1) and estriol (E3) using our established 3D in vitro model. Healthy cornea stromal cells (HCFs) and KC cornea stromal cells (HKCs), both male and female, were stimulated with various concentrations of E1 and E3. Significant changes were observed between cell types, as well as between males and females in the sex hormone receptors tested; androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) using Western blot analysis. E1 and E3 stimulations in HCF females showed AR, PR, and ERbeta were significantly upregulated compared to HCF males. In contrast, ERalpha and ERbeta had significantly higher expression in HKC's females than HKC's males. Our data suggest that the human cornea is a sex-dependent, hormone-responsive tissue that is significantly influenced by E1 and E3. Therefore, it is plausible that E1, E3, and sex hormone receptors are involved in the KC pathobiology, warranting further investigation.