Reactive Oxygen Species regulates proliferation of Uterine Smooth Muscle cells
The goal of this research is to determine whether the levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) increase in leiomyoma smooth muscle cells of the uterus when treated with Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF) or Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF). These growth factors are known to be important in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of leiomyoma smooth muscle cells of the uterus. The abnormal proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells results in the development of leiomyoma tumors, which cause various health problems including abnormal uterine bleeding and infertility. In this lab, Leiomyoma smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro and then transferred to 96 well plates where they were treated with different concentrations of growth factors to see which one would give the best mitogenic response. After determining the optimal concentration for each factor, changes in the levels of intracellular ROS were detected using DCF dye, which interacted with ROS and fluoresces. An increase in intracellular fluorescence was going to reflect an increase in Reactive Oxygen Species production. However, there were no results that confirmed our hypothesis due to technical problems with the confocal microscope, which was needed to see the fluorescence images that would have confirmed us if ROS was whether a part of the signaling pathway for proliferation in leiomyomas or not.
School:
University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón
Department:
Biology
Research Advisor:
Romana A. Nowak
Department of Research Advisor:
Animal Sciences
Year of Publication:
2003