The Effect of Polyinosinic:Polycytidilic Acid on The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Cycle

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Cell and Molecular Biology

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Andreas Trumpp, German Cancer Research Center

Oral Presentation Award

2nd Place

Abstract

Interferon treatment has become a well-established form of therapy, in collaboration with chemotherapy and radiation, in the treatment of numerous cancers. Interferon is a signaling protein which, when secreted, stimulates the cycling of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), leading to the generation of immune cells capable of attacking tumors and metastatic niches. Interferon is secreted by host cells in the presence of pathogens, including viruses and tumor cells. But Interferon treatment is accompanied by numerous side effects. The aim of this project is to test Polyinosinic:polycytidilic acid (poly(I:C)), a synthetic double-stranded RNA, as an alternative to interferon treatment. Mice were given mammary fat pad injections of EYFP-tagged MDA-MB-231 carcinoma cells, and monitored for bioluminescence until well-developed metastases were observed in the lungs. The mice were then injected with 200 μL of poly(I:C), and sacrificed after 24 hours. Bone marrow, blood, and lungs were extracted for immunofluorescence staining and Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACs) analysis. FACs analysis results indicated that mice with immune deficiencies showed drastic increases in the number of differentiated immune cells and HSCs in the latter stages of the cell cycle (SG2M) when treated with poly(I:C), supporting previous research on poly(I:C) and its effect in mouse models.

Location

Wall 209

Start Date

3-25-2017 11:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 11:00 AM

The Effect of Polyinosinic:Polycytidilic Acid on The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Cycle

Wall 209

Interferon treatment has become a well-established form of therapy, in collaboration with chemotherapy and radiation, in the treatment of numerous cancers. Interferon is a signaling protein which, when secreted, stimulates the cycling of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), leading to the generation of immune cells capable of attacking tumors and metastatic niches. Interferon is secreted by host cells in the presence of pathogens, including viruses and tumor cells. But Interferon treatment is accompanied by numerous side effects. The aim of this project is to test Polyinosinic:polycytidilic acid (poly(I:C)), a synthetic double-stranded RNA, as an alternative to interferon treatment. Mice were given mammary fat pad injections of EYFP-tagged MDA-MB-231 carcinoma cells, and monitored for bioluminescence until well-developed metastases were observed in the lungs. The mice were then injected with 200 μL of poly(I:C), and sacrificed after 24 hours. Bone marrow, blood, and lungs were extracted for immunofluorescence staining and Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACs) analysis. FACs analysis results indicated that mice with immune deficiencies showed drastic increases in the number of differentiated immune cells and HSCs in the latter stages of the cell cycle (SG2M) when treated with poly(I:C), supporting previous research on poly(I:C) and its effect in mouse models.