Comparing the Effect of TGFβ on Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression In Whole Skin and Dermal Fibroblasts
School Name
South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Cell and Molecular Biology
Presentation Type
Mentored
Abstract
Scleroderma, or Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), is a connective tissue disease that causes hardening / tightening of the skin and connective tissues. Scleroderma has a 50% 10-year mortality rate and fibrosis is responsible for 45% of deaths in the developed world. One of the staples of Scleroderma, fibrosis, is a leading cause of death worldwide but there are currently no FDA-approved agents capable of stopping or reversing fibrosis. When treating samples of whole skin and isolated skin fibroblasts with TGFβ(Transforming Growth Factor Beta), isolating RNA, synthesizing mRNA, then running quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR), the increase in the strands of Collagen 1A1, Collagen 1A2, and Fibronectin in the extracellular matrix was expected to be greater. The induced response of the Collagen 1A1, Collagen 1A2, and Fibronectin in the extracellular matrix by TGFβ did have a similar trend of increasing in whole skin tissue and in primary skin fibroblasts. In the future, different concentrations of TGFβ should be tested in human skin to identify a concentration that generates a consistent response. The variability of the response in human skin from different individuals reflects susceptibility for developing fibrosis and/or different kinetics of response.
Recommended Citation
Pennell, Michael, "Comparing the Effect of TGFβ on Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression In Whole Skin and Dermal Fibroblasts" (2019). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 70.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2019/all/70
Location
Founders Hall 114 A
Start Date
3-30-2019 1:30 PM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
Comparing the Effect of TGFβ on Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression In Whole Skin and Dermal Fibroblasts
Founders Hall 114 A
Scleroderma, or Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), is a connective tissue disease that causes hardening / tightening of the skin and connective tissues. Scleroderma has a 50% 10-year mortality rate and fibrosis is responsible for 45% of deaths in the developed world. One of the staples of Scleroderma, fibrosis, is a leading cause of death worldwide but there are currently no FDA-approved agents capable of stopping or reversing fibrosis. When treating samples of whole skin and isolated skin fibroblasts with TGFβ(Transforming Growth Factor Beta), isolating RNA, synthesizing mRNA, then running quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR), the increase in the strands of Collagen 1A1, Collagen 1A2, and Fibronectin in the extracellular matrix was expected to be greater. The induced response of the Collagen 1A1, Collagen 1A2, and Fibronectin in the extracellular matrix by TGFβ did have a similar trend of increasing in whole skin tissue and in primary skin fibroblasts. In the future, different concentrations of TGFβ should be tested in human skin to identify a concentration that generates a consistent response. The variability of the response in human skin from different individuals reflects susceptibility for developing fibrosis and/or different kinetics of response.
