Browsing by Subject "molecular biology"

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    Dynamic Bioluminescence Imaging: Development of a Physiological Pharmacokinetic Model of Tumor Metabolism
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2012-04-13) Territo, P.R.; Shannon, H.E.; Freise, K.J.; Riley, A.A.; McCarthy, B.P.; Bailey, B.J.; Cai, S.; Cai, W.; Sinn, T.L.; Wang, H.; Hanenberg, H.; Pollok, K.E.; Hutchins, G.D.
    Bioluminescence (BLI) is a technology which has been studied extensively across multiple genera for more than 90 years. Over this period, BLI has emerged as a powerful noninvasive tool to study tumor localization, growth, and response to therapy due to the relatively recent technological advancements in instrumentation and molecular biology. This technology takes advantage of molecular transfection of the luciferase (LUC) gene from the North American firefly, Photinus pyralis, into human cancer cells, which are then implanted (ectopic or orthotopic) in mice. Oxidation of the exogenously administered substrate D-luciferin by the LUC gene product results in emission of green-yellow photons which are then evaluated in the context of tumor growth and development. Despite the more than 30 years of characterization, there exists a fundamental gap in our knowledge of the underlying PK/PD processes which are at the heart of nearly all BLI interpretation, and has lead to a dogmatic adherence in the literature to numerical methods which are at best simple corollaries of tumor metabolic rate. In an attempt to fill this void, this paper will present a new PK/PD model which takes advantage of the temporal nature of both substrate transport and light evolution. In addition, we will compare these results to traditional non-model based analyses and show how they differ. Lastly we will present OATS (One at A Time) Parameter Sensitivity and Monte Carlo Noise Analysis to characterize the numerical stability and sensitivity of this new model.
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    Metabolic Syndrome Impairs Notch Signaling and Promotes Apoptosis in Chronically Ischemic Myocardium
    (Elsevier, 2014-09) Elmadhun, Nassrene Y.; Sabe, Ashraf A.; Lassaletta, Antonio D.; Chu, Louis M.; Kondra, Katelyn; Sturek, Michael; Sellke, Frank W.; Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology, IU School of Medicine
    Objective Impaired angiogenesis is a known consequence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), however, the mechanism is not fully understood. Recent studies have shown that the Notch signaling pathway is an integral component of cardiac angiogenesis. We tested in a clinically relevant swine model the effects of MetS on Notch and apoptosis signaling in chronically ischemic myocardium. Methods Ossabaw swine were fed either a regular diet (CTL, n=8) or a high-cholesterol diet (MetS, n=8) to induce MetS. An ameroid constrictor was placed to induce chronic myocardial ischemia. Eleven weeks later, animals underwent cardiac harvest of the ischemic myocardium. Results There was down-regulation of pro-angiogenesis proteins Notch2, Notch4, Jagged2, Ang1 and ENOS in the MetS group compared to CTL. There was also up-regulation of pro-apoptosis protein Caspase8, and down-regulation of anti-angiogenesis protein pFOX03, and pro-survival proteins pP38 and HSP90 in the MetS group. Cell death was increased in the MetS group compared to CTL. Both CTL and MetS groups had similar arteriolar count and capillary density, and Notch3 and Jagged1 were both similarly concentrated in the smooth muscle wall in both groups. Conclusions MetS in chronic myocardial ischemia significantly impairs Notch signaling by down regulating Notch receptors, ligands and pro-angiogenesis proteins. MetS also increases apoptosis signaling, decreases survival signaling and increases cell death in chronically ischemic myocardium. Although short-term angiogenesis appears unaffected in this model of early MetS, the molecular signals for angiogenesis are impaired, thus suggesting that inhibition of Notch signaling may underlie decreased angiogenesis in later stages of MetS.