Scholar Profiles
Ronica Hazariwala
2005 - 2006 University Scholar
Mentor: Veena Antony
College of Medicine
"The USP offers me a unique opportunity to delve into the biomedical research field and closely examine the mechanics of the human body that are responsible for healthfulness and for disease. Inspired by a friend’s campaign against smoking, I hope to study the effects of tobacco smoke on the lungs’ airways."
Ronica is a sophomore majoring in Spanish with a pre-medicine track. She is a National Merit Scholar and a recipient of the Best Buy Scholarship. A student researcher in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, she is also a volunteer for the Family Medical Practice Group and Child Life. She is a member of the Indian Student Association and vice president of the UF Bhangra Club.
Research Description:
The Down-Regulation of Beta-Catenin Expression by Tobacco Smoke and PTiO
The lung epithelium is the first line of defense against foreign substances, especially inhaled compounds such as cigarette tobacco smoke. The respiratory epithelium is held together by intercellular adherens junction proteins, primarily E-cadherin and Beta-Catenin, which bind directly to each other. This interaction is crucial for durable cell adhesion and for limited permeability of substances into the endothelial and mesothelial layers of the lung.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of tobacco
smoke, as well as the counter-effect of PTiO (a nitric oxide
scavenger) on the expression of the protein Beta-Catenin found
in bronchial epithelial airway (BEAS) cells.
BEAS cells will be cultured in the presence of fresh tobacco
smoke extract (TSE), PTiO, and a combination of TSE and PTiO
at constant concentrations. The treatments will be stopped at
three timepoints to determine response over time by measuring
protein concentrations of each unknown sample and by Western
blot analysis. In addition, cells will grow to confluence on
gelantinized glass chambered slides, be treated with TSE, PTiO,
and TSE plus PTiO for varying lengths of time, and stained and
viewed with a fluorescence microscope to determine cell integrity.
Finally, the real-time electrical resistance of the samples
will be measured to detect the response of Beta-Catenin to TSE
and PTiO and thereby the epithelial permeability.
The determination of the effects of TSE and PTiO on the expression of Beta-Catenin and cell permeability can provide clinically applicable information from which future treatments can be derived.
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