Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Cell and Molecular Biology
Jayde Price - Alabama State University
Co-Author(s): Aliyah Curry, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL; Qiana Matthews, Ph.D., Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that act as biomarkers of certain diseased states. Specific characteristics of these extracellular vesicles have been found to be elevated in particular diseased states including malaria, various cancers, and autoimmune diseases. Our objective is to measure the effects of nicotine on exosome biogenesis in liver cells. We hypothesize that nicotine administration will affect exosome biogenesis. Our findings will provide additional information related to how nicotine usage affects cellular mechanisms in the human body. We treated liver cell lines with nicotine or left them untreated (control). Cell viability was measured and we found cell viability to be impacted by nicotine dosing. Exosomes were purified from cell culture media via high-speed ultracentrifugation or commercial kits. Exosome protein quantity was determined by standard quantitation method. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in combination with Coomassie blue staining revealed major exosomal proteins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays validated the presence of exosome-associated proteins and how they are effected by nicotine dosing. Findings indicate that the composition of exosomes derived from the liver cells were altered by nicotine dosing. Overall, these results strengthen the stigma that nicotine negatively affects the human body and that exosomes act as a strong precursor to particular diseased states. Future research involves analyzing the effects of nicotine on exosome biogenesis in various cell lines including lung and skin.
Not SubmittedFunder Acknowledgement(s): 1. US Dept. of Education 2. The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) (P120A150008) awarded to Dr. Komal Vig (PD) 3. NSFCREST (HRD-1241701) awarded to Dr. Shree S. Singh (PI) 4. Gorgas Memorial Research Foundation research grant awarded to Dr.?Qiana L. Matthews (PI).
Faculty Advisor: Qiana Matthews, Qmatthews@alasu.edu
Role: I performed several parts of this research including exosome purification, quantitation, ELISA, SDS-PAGE, Coommassie blue staining, as well as nicotine dosing of exosomes.