Browsing by Subject "Fluids and Secretions"
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Item A Study of Some Aspects of the Role of Mast Cells in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis(1994-06-01) Lee, Carol Hamberlin; Edward Orr; Robert Gracy; Laura S. LangLee, Carol Hamberlin, A Study of Some Aspects of the Role of Mast Cells in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis. Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), June 1994, 141 pp., 6 tables, 29 illustrations, bibliography, 115 titles. Choroidal mast cells have been implicated in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), an ocular inflammatory disease induced by S-antigen (Sag). Activation of ocular mast cells in Lewis rats was evaluated by determining changes in numbers of mast cells, levels of histamine, and wet weights of ocular tissues. A decrease in choroidal mast cells was confirmed statistically, and limbal mast cells were found to be activated earlier than choroidal mast cells. The ocular histamine distribution was altered during EAU, decreasing in the anterior eye, and increasing in the posterior eye. Retinal histamine levels increased when EAU symptoms occurred, but decreased while the disease was still intense. Levels of histamine methyltransferase, which degrades histamine, increased significiantly in retinal tissue when histamine levels fell. Signficant weight increases indicated edema, which can result from mast cell mediator action. Leflunomide, an immunomodulating drug that is known to affect mast cells in vitro, prevented induction of EAU. Leflunomide also suppressed changes in the mast cell-related parameters, histamine levels and wet weights. Mechanisms for activation of ocular mast cells in EAU were investigated. Results suggest that mast cell activation does not occur through mast cell surface IgE-antigen crosslinking. The adjuvant used, complete Freund’s adjuvant, is not conducive to IgE production. Histamine releasing factors, HRFs, are produced by various immune system cellular components. Preliminary efforts did not demonstrate HRF activity. Mast cell numbers, histamine levels, and wet weights were also evaluated in a milder form of EAU induced by M-peptide (Mpep), a peptide fragment of Sag. Mpep/EAU produces few disease symptoms in the anterior eye, but destroys the same retinal area as Sag/EAU—photoreceptor cells and their outer segments. Inflammation is less intense, restricted primarily to the target area. Mast cell numbers did not change, but histamine levels and wet weights changed significantly, suggesting that mast cells are also involved in Mpep/EAU. Overall, the results of this study add to evidence that mast cells are involved in pathogenesis of EAU. The results also point to topics of further investigation into the role of mast cells in EAU and in normal function in ocular tissues.Item Mutation in myocilin affect it's processing and secretion in the trabedular meshwork cell(2003-05-01) Jacobson, Nasreen; Robert Wordinger; Richard Easom; Neeraj AgarwalJacobson, Nasreen, Mutations in myocilin affect it secretion and processing in the cell. Doctor of Philosophy (Cell Biology and Ginetics), May 2003, 157 pp., 6 tables, 46 illustrations, 17 movies. Introduction. Myocilin is the protein product of the glaucoma gene MYOC whose function is unknown. Structural predictions of the protein indicate myocilin is secreted. This study uses several techniques to determine whether myocilin is synthesized and processed through the secretory pathway. Methods. Agents known to disrupt the secretory pathway at specific organelles will be used to examine the effect on myocilin secretion. Also, constructs for chimeric myocilin and fluorescent proteins (myoc.504DsRED and myoc.504EGFP) will be used in conjunction with EGFP directed to specific organelles to determine colocalization of myocilin in the cell. The disruption of wild type and disease-causing mutants (myocQ368X.DsRED, myocG364V.504DsRED and myocY437H.504DsRED) of myocilin will be compared. Then in vivo studies will be used to try to determine if myocilin is associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Results. Myocilin appears as a doublet on SDS-PAGE western blots when probed with anti-myocilin antibody (AB129). Treatment of cells with tunicamycin prevents secretion of the upper band of the myocilin doublet, but not secretion of the lower band. Brefelden A prevents secretion of both bands of the myocilin doublet indicating that both bands are processed in the Golgi. Monensin treatment indicates there is no post-Golgi processing of myocilin prior to secretion. Colocalization of fluorescent myocilin with cellular organelles tagged with EGFP indicated that myocilin travels through the ER, Golgi and is secreted from the cell. Disease-causing mutations in myocilin are not secreted. The Q368X associates with wild type myocilin and appears to be degraded. The G364V and Y437H mutants can apparently be retained in the ER and also are closely associated with peroxisomes. Experiments designed to determine if myocilin can be correlated with increased IOP suggest an association of myocilin with increased IOP in an ex vivo human anterior segment perfusion system, but in vivo experiments gave inconclusive results. Conclusions. Myocilin is a secreted glycoprotein in the TM. Glaucomatous mutations in myocilin cause non-secretion. TM cells handle different myocilin mutations differently.Item Optimization of Spermatozoa Capture During the Differential Extraction Process for STR Typing with the Potential for Automation(2002-05-01) Marshall, Pamela L.; Eisenberg, Arthur; Martin, Michael W.; Wordinger, Robert J.Marshall, Pamela. Optimization of Spermatozoa Capture During the Differential Extraction Process for STR Typing With the Potential for Automation. Master of Science (Forensic Genetics). May, 2002. In 1998, within the United States, it is estimated that a rape occurred every 2.3 minutes. In 1995, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an estimated 350,000 rapes or sexual assaults (R/SA0 were experienced by persons age 12 or older. Of the estimated 100,000 R/SA reported, there were only approximately, 25,000 cases analyzed by crime labs nationwide. The majority of crime laboratories throughout the U.S., especially those in major metropolitan cities, have a significant backlog of unresolved R/SA cases. With the implementation of the Convicted Offender Database (CODIS), it is essential that all R/SA cases by analyzed, especially those lacking a known suspect. The comparison of the short tandem repeat (STR) profiles derived from sperm DNA recovered from evidentiary material with CODIS samples would provide the police with critical investigative leads resulting in the identification of the assailant. The goal of this research is to develop a cellular sorting method for the isolation of sperm cells from sexual assault samples which will: 1) take advantage of differentiating features (extracellular antigenic sites) for complete separation of cell types, 2) provide a more efficient means of sperm recovery, increasing DNA yield from the male fraction, and 3) ensure the DNA isolation process is compatible with the amplification of the CODIS core STR loci. Overall, the proposed technique will increase the probability of success in the analysis of sexual assault case samples. (NIJGrant #: 2000-IJ-CX-K009).