Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, 2012.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Buck, Lorenna Dianne
Other Authors: Linda G. Griffith.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/87911
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author Buck, Lorenna Dianne
author2 Linda G. Griffith.
author_facet Linda G. Griffith.
Buck, Lorenna Dianne
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description Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, 2012.
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spelling mit-1721.1/879112019-04-11T14:36:00Z Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes Buck, Lorenna Dianne Linda G. Griffith. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering. Biological Engineering. Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, 2012. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-211). While a link between chronic inflammation and cancer has been established, the mechanisms of genotoxicity in inflammatory environments remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that inflammation may provide cues that allow cells to survive in the face of significant DNA damage as well as cues that foster cell proliferation. This study sought to elucidate changes that influence hepatocyte decision processes under conditions of chronic inflammation by using a set of extracellular signals, both soluble and matrix-related, which can be varied systematically to create a diverse range of intracellular signaling states and phenotypic outcomes. We developed an easily translatable model system that can maintain primary mouse hepatocytes in a differentiated state and study the independent extracellular cues which regulate hepatocyte behavior during chronic inflammation. This model system allowed systematic variation of oxygen concentration as well as matrix composition and stiffness. Collagen, polyacrylamide, and RADA gels were used to create extracellular environments resembling the various stages of normal and fibrotic liver. Through careful control of medium depth and incubator oxygen levels, we determined that oxygen tension and extracellular matrix affected hepatocyte differentiation independently, and that both high oxygen and a compliant matrix environment are necessary for prolonged maintenance of primary mouse hepatocytes in vitro. Optimization of a quantitative imaging solution enabled the capture of rare events occurring in individual cells within a larger cell population. Using TNF-alpha, Fas ligand and, IL-6 cytokines in conjunction with oxygen and matrix cues, we investigated how extracellular stimuli influence cell fate in a pseudo-inflammatory environment and demonstrated that partial execution of apoptosis is a possible mechanism for genotoxicity in hepatocytes during chronic inflammation. The results of this study improve our understanding of how cues in the extracellular environment combine to influence the behavior primary mouse hepatocytes. The system we developed can be used as a platform for a multitude of in vitro applications including studies regarding drug toxicity and inflammation. by Lorenna Dianne Buck. Ph. D. 2014-06-13T22:31:16Z 2014-06-13T22:31:16Z 2012 2012 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/87911 880138110 eng MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 211 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Biological Engineering.
Buck, Lorenna Dianne
Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes
title Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes
title_full Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes
title_fullStr Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes
title_short Quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes
title_sort quantitative analysis of cell decision processes in response to inflammatory cues and their role in mediating genotoxicity in hepatocytes
topic Biological Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/87911
work_keys_str_mv AT bucklorennadianne quantitativeanalysisofcelldecisionprocessesinresponsetoinflammatorycuesandtheirroleinmediatinggenotoxicityinhepatocytes