Stem-Cell Like PDGFR? Cells are Induced in Chronic Intestinal Partial Obstruction

The gastrointestinal tract harbors a wide array of smooth muscle cells, motor neurons, and epithelial and stem cells. This makes it an attractive model system for the study of regeneration following mechanical injury. This project investigated the regenerative capacity of the gut by injuring the murine gastrointestinal tract and characterizing the changes that occur in several cell populations critical to gastroenterological function. To accomplish this, a chronic partial intestinal obstruction surgery was used to stimulate intestinal tissue, and changes to cellular phenotype and behavior were characterized using histology and immunofluorescence. We found that the injury induced smooth muscle hypertrophy, which involved the proliferation of CD34+/CD29-/CD45+ cells. Moreover, mature smooth muscle cells dedifferentiated into a proliferative, PDGFR?+ phenotype under hypertrophic and cultured conditions. Future directions will evaluate the potential of these cells for use in cell therapy, and will translate these findings to analagous aganglionic human disorders.

Name thesis:degree_name

Biochem and Molecular Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Honors Thesis

Grantor

University of Nevada, Reno

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Fuchs, Robert M.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ro, Seungil

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)

Language dc:language.iso

en_US, English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11714/645

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/645