| Affiliations: | Michael E. DeBakey Institute Undergraduate Research Program |
| Project Leader: | Elizabeth Harper bethharper@tamu.edu Biomedical Sciences |
| Faculty Mentor: | Ranjeet Dongaonkar, Ph.D. |
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Meeting Times:
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Summer 2016 (complete) |
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Team Size:
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4 (Team Full) |
| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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Skills learned/developed: How to use an Olympus inverted microscope, how to use MetaFlour Fluorescence Imaging Software, how to handle cultured rat lymphatic endothelial cells, how to handle and use chemicals/drugs such as Trypan Blue, Trypsin, Accumax, DMSO, DAF and Fura 2 AM, how to conduct cell viability studies, how to conduct intercellular calcium and nitric oxide studies |
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Team Needs:
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Description:
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Lymphatic vessels periodically contract and relax to actively pump lymph, transport immune cells, and are critical to maintain organ health. Lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) regulate pump function by releasing vasoactive factors, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins, in response to altered lymph flow and composition. It is understood that enhanced LEC NO production induces lymphatic pump failure and leads to organ dysfunction. Although recent radiation studies have reported loss of lymphatic function, effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on LECs have yet to be investigated thoroughly. Therefore, the goal of these studies to investigate the mechanisms by which low-dose ionizing radiation induces LEC dysfunction. Findings from these studies are expected to form the basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat organ dysfunction in radiotherapy patients. |