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Office of Undergraduate Research Home » 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium Schedules

Found 1 project

Poster Presentation 2

12:45 PM to 2:00 PM
Investigating the Role of Tie2 Signaling in Vascular Regeneration Using Diabetic Blood Vessel Organoids    
Presenter
  • Akira Dan (Akira) Morishita, Senior, Biology (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental)
Mentors
  • Hannele Ruohola-Baker, Biochemistry
  • Devon Ehnes, Biochemistry
  • Yan Ting Zhao, Biochemistry
Session
    Poster Session 2
  • HUB Lyceum
  • Easel #108
  • 12:45 PM to 2:00 PM

  • Other Biochemistry mentored projects (28)
  • Other students mentored by Hannele Ruohola-Baker (4)
  • Other students mentored by Devon Ehnes (1)
Investigating the Role of Tie2 Signaling in Vascular Regeneration Using Diabetic Blood Vessel Organoids    close

Angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for normal bodily function but is especially important in diseases that cause blood vessel breakdown such as diabetic vasculopathy. Angiogenesis is regulated by activation of the Tie2 receptors in endothelial cells, which have two main ligands: angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2). Ang1 binding has been shown to stabilize blood vessels and inhibit vascular leakage, while Ang2 antagonizes these effects. We have previously shown that a computationally designed Tie2 super-agonist which presents eight copies of the Ang1 F-domain strongly activates Ang1-like signaling in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this project, we hope to assess the Tie2 super-agonist’s ability to rescue diabetes induced blood vessel defects in a diabetic blood vessel organoid (BVO) model. To model diabetic conditions, a three-dimensional blood vessel organoid model has been cultured in a high glucose media along with inflammatory cytokines associated with the diabetic phenotype. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining will be used to assess the relative quantities and localization of proteins involved in vascular stability and inflammations upon treatment with the Tie2 super-agonist. Vascular degeneration is a very harmful condition associated with many prevalent diseases including diabetes, so the Tie2 super-agonist could potentially be a new therapeutic drug candidate for treating blood vessel dysfunction in patients with these conditions in the future.


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