Student: Tien Le
Committee: Dr. Abhinav Acharya
Abstract:
Autoimmune diseases are inflammatory diseases where the immune systems attacks healthy tissue. The etiology of autoimmune diseases is still widely unknown, however, pro-inflammatory dendritic and T cells have been shown to be implicated in disease pathogenies. In a previous study, we generated alpha ketoglutarate polymer (paKG) microparticles (MPs), finding that bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) can phagocytose these particles and that paKG MPs can modulate BMDC metabolism by increasing anti-inflammatory effects within the glutamate and arginine pathway. Methotrexate is an immunosuppressant that has become one of the most effect FDA approved therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis. Since MTX induces anti-inflammatory responses, this study seeks to examine the effect of low-dose MTX with paKG MPs to promote an anti-inflammatory state. We used a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. Splenic and cervical lymph node tissue was harvested for metabolomic assays. We found that treatment groups did not fully resolve inflammation, though paKG-based MPs without MTX exhibited higher anti-inflammatory T cell responses. Thus, there is potential for paKG MPs for treating autoimmune diseases.
Zoom Room: https://asu.zoom.us/j/6790653503
Presentation Time: 12:00-1:00 PM (Arizona Time)
