Virginia Tech
An Investigation of the Interplay Among CX3CR1, Immune Cells, and Gut Microbiota in Lupus-Associated Arthritis and Renal Disease using the MRL/lpr Mouse
Abstract
dc:description.abstractgeneralSystemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, is a disease where the body's immune system attacks itself, which can lead to tissue injury and organ failure. In this dissertation, different aspects of lupus were studied to better understand the disease. CX3CR1, a surface protein that guides cell migration, was found to influence the production of inflammatory proteins IL-17A and IL-17F, as well as the gut microbiota—bacteria living in the gut. The gut microbiota was observed to influence IL-17A but not IL-17F. When examining lupus-associated kidney disease and joint inflammation arthritis, CX3CR1 was found to affect them differently. The absence of CX3CR1 worsened kidney disease but improved arthritis. Different immune cells such as T cells and myeloid cells were observed to correlate with arthritis and/or kidney disease. A new gut microbiota biomarker for lupus-associated kidney disease, the Lachnospiraceae-to-Oscillospiraceae ratio, was discovered, which may become a new method to help prescreen patients before a kidney biopsy has to be performed. Overall, these findings contribute to scientific knowledge and could lead to targeted therapies to help lupus patients.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Level thesis:degree_level
- doctoral
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2026
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Estaleen, Rana
- Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Luo, Xin
- Reilly, Christopher Michael
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Ahmed, S. A.
- LeRoith, Tanya
Subjects
dc:subject × 6Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:45531
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140732