Digitized Honors Theses (2002-2017)

Date of Award

5-2010

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

BS

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Faculty Mentor

Azin Agan

Abstract

Wound healing occurs in four distinct, yet overlapping phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Problems arise when proper wound healing does not occur or is hindered in some way; such is the case with the debilitating connective tissue disease scleroderma. Though exact causes of the disease are not understood, symptoms include fibrosis due to increased collagen deposition and reduced angiogenesis.

Preliminary data have shown that levels of Thrombospondin I (TSPI), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, are elevated in the cultured dermal fibroblasts isolated from scleroderma patients. It was hypothesized that TSPI displays anti-angiogenic properties which contribute to reduced neovascularization during wound healing. To assess the role of TSPI expression in wound healing, TSPI-sense plasmid was prepared and purified.

This sample was analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The concentration and purity of the plasmid DNA in our preparation were determined using a spectrophotometer. A highly purified sample of TSPI-sense cDNA was obtained. The endotoxin assay of the sample was inconclusive and must be repeated before further studies with the sample can occur. This plasmid will be used to prepare gene activated matrices (GAMs) to be inserted subcutaneously into wild type and tight skin-I (Tsk-1/+) mice, which are an animal model exhibiting scleroderma-like symptoms. This model will be utilized to study the effects of elevated TSPI in inflammation-induced angiogenesis during the foreign body response.

Download

Share

COinS