Effect of Membrane Only Localization of Estrogen Receptor Alpha on the Development and Function of Immune Cells

Rayed HamidFollow

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Cell and Molecular Biology

Presentation Type

Mentored

Abstract

Estrogen receptor alpha is known to have a role in modulating the progression of autoimmune diseases. The objective of the study was to determine how the development and function of immune cells was affected by the localization of estrogen receptor alpha in membrane only (MOER) and nuclear only (NOER) mutants. Bone marrow immune cell numbers were measured to understand how cell development had been altered. Splenocyte cytokine expression of IL-6 and MCP-1 inflammatory agents were measured in an effort to determine if immune cell function had changed. Bone marrow flow cytometry was conducted for maturing dendritic cells and macrophages numbers. Cell numbers for both were determined to be higher in the MOER bone marrow than other groups. Cytokine levels were measured using an ELISA and mRNA levels by RT-qPCR. One group of splenocytes was treated with a toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist to boost overall cytokine levels, while the other was kept as a control. As expected, the levels of cytokines were higher in TLR7 treated groups. A trend of higher levels of IL-6 protein were identified by ELISA in the MOER group. The MCP-1 protein ELISA data was unavailable due to control errors. The RT-qPCR found mRNA expression to be higher in the MOER group for both IL-6 and MCP-1. The role of membranal estrogen receptor alpha in the implication of autoimmune diseases requires further exploration. The findings of our research could possibly influence how immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune diseases is approached in the future.

Location

Furman Hall 107

Start Date

3-28-2020 9:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 28th, 9:45 AM

Effect of Membrane Only Localization of Estrogen Receptor Alpha on the Development and Function of Immune Cells

Furman Hall 107

Estrogen receptor alpha is known to have a role in modulating the progression of autoimmune diseases. The objective of the study was to determine how the development and function of immune cells was affected by the localization of estrogen receptor alpha in membrane only (MOER) and nuclear only (NOER) mutants. Bone marrow immune cell numbers were measured to understand how cell development had been altered. Splenocyte cytokine expression of IL-6 and MCP-1 inflammatory agents were measured in an effort to determine if immune cell function had changed. Bone marrow flow cytometry was conducted for maturing dendritic cells and macrophages numbers. Cell numbers for both were determined to be higher in the MOER bone marrow than other groups. Cytokine levels were measured using an ELISA and mRNA levels by RT-qPCR. One group of splenocytes was treated with a toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist to boost overall cytokine levels, while the other was kept as a control. As expected, the levels of cytokines were higher in TLR7 treated groups. A trend of higher levels of IL-6 protein were identified by ELISA in the MOER group. The MCP-1 protein ELISA data was unavailable due to control errors. The RT-qPCR found mRNA expression to be higher in the MOER group for both IL-6 and MCP-1. The role of membranal estrogen receptor alpha in the implication of autoimmune diseases requires further exploration. The findings of our research could possibly influence how immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune diseases is approached in the future.