Looking at GD3 as an immunotherapeutic target to treat benign TSC Tumors
Session Number
Project ID: BIO 31
Advisor(s)
Dr. Caroline Le Poole; Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Ancy Thomas; Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Emilia Dellacecca; Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Discipline
Biology
Start Date
22-4-2020 8:50 AM
End Date
22-4-2020 9:05 AM
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), is a genetic disorder presenting with benign tumors which can pose severe health problems including altered organ function. A method to combat TSC might be to target ganglioside D3 (GD3) which is overexpressed in TSC tissues. Chimeric antigen receptor transduced T cells (CAR T-cells) specific to GD3 were injected into a mouse model of TSC to measure whether CAR T-cells mediate a robust immune response to tumors. The project incorporates using TSC2 heterozygote mice that develop TSC tumors in the liver and kidneys after about 9 months. After CAR T cell infusion, the liver and tissue were preserved and sectioned for immunofluorescence staining to characterize immune responses and GD3 expression. CD4 and CD8 T cell staining marked the immune infiltration. GD3 expression in the TSC-diseased mice was found to be significantly higher (p
Looking at GD3 as an immunotherapeutic target to treat benign TSC Tumors
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), is a genetic disorder presenting with benign tumors which can pose severe health problems including altered organ function. A method to combat TSC might be to target ganglioside D3 (GD3) which is overexpressed in TSC tissues. Chimeric antigen receptor transduced T cells (CAR T-cells) specific to GD3 were injected into a mouse model of TSC to measure whether CAR T-cells mediate a robust immune response to tumors. The project incorporates using TSC2 heterozygote mice that develop TSC tumors in the liver and kidneys after about 9 months. After CAR T cell infusion, the liver and tissue were preserved and sectioned for immunofluorescence staining to characterize immune responses and GD3 expression. CD4 and CD8 T cell staining marked the immune infiltration. GD3 expression in the TSC-diseased mice was found to be significantly higher (p