 | Nisha George University of Maryland, Baltimore County BiologyMentor(s)Ramsey Foty, Ph.D. Connan Vaca Department of Surgery UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School |
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| Expression of antiangiogeneic protein, EMAPII, by pancreatic α and β cells | ||
| This project is designed to determine whether α and β pancreatic islets cells express the antiangiogenic protein, endothelial monocyte- activating polypeptide (EMAP) II. The pancreas contains islets of glucagon producing α cells and insulin producing β cells. Improper function of these cells can lead to various adverse health effects. A major disease, commonly known as diabetes, is caused by the underproduction of insulin by β-cells. Attempts have been made to treat diabetes by injecting pancreatic islets into the livers of diabetic patients. However, these islets were observed to lack proper vascularization; possibly due to the presence of an antiangiogenic protein on their surface. EMAP II is a cytokine-like molecule first identified from murine methylcholanthrere A-induced fibrosarcomas. In earlier experiments, EMAPII had been shown to have antiangiogenic properties defined by inhibition of vessel ingrowth in a Matrigel model and a corneal eye model. Our hypothesis is that α and β cells express antiangiogenic proteins and that down-regulation of such proteins may improve islet vascularization. Our objective was to first determine whether islet cells express EMAPII. Upon determination of EMAPII’s association with α or β pancreatic islets, future steps can be taken toward engineering cells that lack expression of EMAPII; which may potentially allow for proper vascularization of pancreatic islets and can serve as a treatment for diabetes. We used immunoblot and immunofluorescence analysis to determine whether α (α-TC) and β (INS-1 and MIN6) cells express EMAPII. Western blot analysis showed the expression of EMAPII by the α and β cell lines. These results were also supported by immunohistochemical analysis, which demonstrated EMAPII localization in pancreatic islets. |