Inhibition of Margination and Diapedesis of Neutrophils by Protein Synthesis Blockade

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), an age-old clinical problem facing the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Units of all health systems, is a common debilitating lung condition consequent upon severe systemic inflammation. Although several studies have gone into understanding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the disease thus making way for new advances in treatment strategies, there seems to be no known study tailored to its prevention. Neutrophil extravasation within the tissues during inflammation is the hallmark of this syndrome. Our study sought to block excessive neutrophil infiltration by inhibiting the biosynthesis of some essential proteins necessary for the process. In this initial study, neutrophil transmigration was successfully reduced by 66% using protein synthesis inhibitors, a combination of puromycin and anisomycin. Our strategy, if fine-tuned, could form the basis of a new clinical strategy for the prevention of ARDS.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biochemistry

Year dc:date.available

2006

Author dc:creator

• Acquah, Phyllis V.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Sarah Spiegal

• respiratory
• immune response
• lung disease
• ARDS
• Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
• Life Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1439

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-2438