Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Microbiology/Immunology/Virology
Session: 2
Room: Exhibit Hall A
Morgan Bond - Norfolk State University
Co-Author(s): Dr. Carlos H. Serezani, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Dr. Paulo D. Melo, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Neutrophils are phagocytic cells responsible for initiation and amplification of the inflammatory response to several foreign substances present, including bacterial infections. One of the molecules present in the cell is MicroRNA. MicroRNA is responsible for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. MicroRNA21 was the first specific strand that research proved helpful in the regulatory function of the immune system in mammalian cells. It is the most abundant microRNA in macrophages but there are no studies clearly stating the roles of microRNA21 in neutrophils. We hypothesized that proinflammatory neutrophils will increase the expression of microRNA21, which will lead to the regulation of pro inflammatory molecules. This research will investigate the role of microRNA21 under LPS (lipopolysaccharide) stimulation in neutrophils. We will utilize both a human derived neutrophil cell line (HL60), that will be transfected with AntagomiR21 or Scramble (control) and mouse-derived neutrophils (peritoneal elicited neutrophils) from WT and microR21-myeloid cell deficient mice. After LPS stimulation the cells will be harvested for proinflammatory gene and protein expression analysis, by quantitative PCR and immunoblotting respectively. Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL6, IL-1beta) and IL-10 will be measured by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) in the supernatant of the neutrophils culture. Also, we will evaluate the population of neutrophils (CD11b+ Ly6G+) in bone marrow and spleen of WT and microR21-myeloid cells deficient mice by flow cytometer. The study of microRNA21 in neutrophils will contribute to advancing the understanding of immunopathology response mechanisms; as it is also an attractive target for therapeutic purposes of inflammatory diseases.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Carlos H. Serezani, h.serezan@vumc.org
Role: All experiments and data analysis was/were done by me with the aid of my mentor. I was not included in parts of the protocol that directly regarded handling the live mice.