Xiaolu Zhang
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Research Mentor(s): Priyan Weerappuli, Postdoctoral Scholar
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Biological and Material Sciences, School of Dentistry
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 2 (11am – 11:50am)
Breakout Room: Room 14
Presenter: 7
Abstract
4T1 and 4T07 cells found in mouse mammary tumors, having been isolated from the same parental tumor, share a common genetic background. However, 4T1 cells metastasize through neutrophil extracellular traps while 4T07 cells do not. It has been shown that the two cells produce different levels of CXCR-2 ligands in vitro but similar levels of these ligands when cultured in the presence of DHMs (an engineered nucleoprotein material that mimics properties of NETs). We hope to find mutations that are present in the metastatic 4T1 cells but are not present in non-metastatic 4T07 cells. By doing so we hope to better understand the importance of mutated genes in tumor metastasis. The team began analyzing 4T1 transcriptomic data published by the Siegel lab in McGill, and from this data each gene’s relative average intensity in the 4T1 cell genome was identified. Following the data analysis, both 4T1 and 4T07 cells were cultured in different environmental conditions in vitro to examine the relationship between environmental stimulus and the production of chemokines. At the same time, the roles of different receptor signaling pathways were studied in regards to how they intervene in the production of chemokines. The research on signaling pathways focuses on areas including the pathways’ functions, downstream effects and their relations to CXCR-2 ligands production. Because the research is not yet complete, we do not have results about the genetic mutations present solely in 4T1 cells. Our data will mainly come from 2D cell culture of 4T1 and 4T07 cells and we expect to see different environmental conditions and various protein signaling pathways causing different effects on chemokine production.
Authors: Xiaolu Zhang, Amareesa Robinson, Austyn Smith, Isha Balaguru, Olivia Brigando, Eason Chang, Jessica Sepsey, Mary Kritikos, Madilyn Gaydos, Guneet Shah, Priyan Weerappuli
Research Method: Qualitative Study
