Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2012

Mentor: Dr. Rashmin Savani           
Department:   Department of Neonatology
Room number: K4.222
Mail Code: 9063      
Phone number: 214-648-2145       
E-mail: rashmin.savani@utsouthwestern.edu                   
Project title: Hyaluronan and Macrophages          

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):      

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):       2009-0136

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Animal-based research/Cell biology

Brief Description of Project:

IL1β is a molecule responsible for inflammation and alveolar damage. It is regulated by LMW HA through its interaction with TLR 2/4 (although the pathway is not defined) leading to the formation of an inflammosome and subsequent activation of IL1β. Using specific knock-out mice and bone marrow-derived macrophages in culture we will define receptors involved in HA-stimulated IL1β.

Specific description of what the student will do:

Sonika will learn how to culture both a murine macrophage cell line as well as bone marrow-derived macrophages from specific transgenic and knockout mice. She will stimulate them with either Pam3Cys (TLR2 ligand), LPS (TLR4 ligand) or Hyaluronan and examine the production of IL1ß mRNA in the cells and protein in the medium.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

See attached pages.