Joseph Zourob
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): Mohammad Farazuddin
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Biology and Medical Sciences / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 2 – 11am – 11:50am
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Joseph Zourob , Mohammad Farazuddin , JR Baker Jr
Presenter: 58
Abstract
Introduction: Retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of Vitamin A regulates many cellular functions such as cell growth, differentiation, and ontogenesis. Among different cell types, dendritic cells (DCs) are most efficient in converting vitamin A into RA with the help of retinaldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme (RALDH). Thus produced RA regulates mucosal immunity by controlling functions of other immune cells as well as of DCs. Previous research has also found that RA improves the proliferation of T cells and induces gut homing receptors of T cells as well as dendritic cells. Because of the critical role that RA plays in the mucosal immune system, our objective was to study its role in anti-viral immunity and anti-bacterial immunity. Methods: In this study, we utilized mice that express dominant negative forms of RA receptor a (RARa) specific to DCs. To determine the role of RA in anti-viral immunity, we utilized a synthetic analog of viral RNA, Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (plC), a TLR3 ligand andfor anti-bacterial immunity, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a TLR4 ligand. To test our hypothesis, we cultured bone marrow drive dendritic cells (BMDCs) and stimulated them with plC and LPS. Subsequently, after stimulation, we isolated RNA from these samples and studied the expression of Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), Interleukin-12a (IL-12a), Interleukin-12ß (IL-12ß), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 10 (IL-10), Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), Interferon-ß (IFN-ß) cytokines with the help of real time PCR. Results and Conclusion: We observed differential expression of cytokines between wild type (WT) and RAR defective DCs. This suggests retinoic acid signaling regulates anti-viral immunity differently than anti-bacterial immunity.
Biomedical Sciences
