Alejandra Abramson
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Ligia Buloto Schmitd
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Cell and Developmental Biology / Medicine
Program:
Authors: Alejandra Abramson, Ligia Schmitd, Roman Giger
Session: Session 5: 2:40 pm – 3:30 pm
Poster: 73
Abstract
This research examines the role of repair Schwann cells (SC), reprogramed SCs that promote nerve regeneration. During the repair program, SCs signal for the production of extracellular vesicles (EV), which contain molecules that direct and initiate the recovery growth of the nerve cells. Because previous studies have linked these EVs to be one of the most prominent foundations in the nerve degeneration/regeneration process, we are focusing on how outstanding their contribution is; additionally, we are targeting these EVs to define and characterize which components are essential for nerve regeneration. Identifying these factors can be revolutionary in pinpointing the aids or harms that can be manipulated for injury patients in accelerating their recovery. We are currently working on using experimental mouse models devoid of EVs to pinpoint their role in nerve regeneration in vivo. We are breeding the mice to genotype them using PCR and gel electrophoresis and trying a new exosome isolation kit to compare it to other established methods. Another focus is to assess the importance of Wallerian degeneration to the repair SC program. Since this is a relatively newly established project, we have seen that specific genes like Sarm-1 significantly influence the efficiency of Wallerian degeneration. They both affect two different aspects of the process itself. This project will produce both results and answers to specific theoretical questions that can be tied into potential treatments for the future that can amplify nerve regeneration. We are culturing SCs from wild-type and Sarm1 knockout mice to evaluate their behavior in vitro. After 1 and 3 days in culture, we evaluate the expression of proteins related to repair, such as p75 and c-Jun, to assess if SCs from Sarm1 knockout mice have a deficient repair phenotype. Millions of people suffer from nerve injuries every year, and by conducting this research, we are on the way to establishing information on what we can do to amplify this process to help people recover more efficiently in the first place. It has the potential to recover sensory and motor function after injury, positively impacting people’s quality of life.
