Emerin and inherited disease
Name
59823266-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.66 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
0549e7d0e07ae634c8b6d2dc8eb03aa3
Author(s)
Hsiao, Janet, 1981-
Advisor(s)
Richard Lee.
Date Issued
2004
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
(cont.) nucleus and at the nuclear surface.
Mutations in the lamin A/C gene (Lmna) and the lamin-associated protein emerin gene (EM) cause a variety of human diseases including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, familial partial lipodystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. The molecular mechanisms underlying the varied phenotypes are unknown, and both a mechanical stress hypothesis and an altered gene expression hypothesis have been proposed to explain the tissue specific effects observed in laminopathies. To investigate the role of emerin in mechanotransduction, lamin A/C deficient (Lmna⁻/⁻) fibroblasts, and emerin deficient (EM⁻/y) fibroblasts were studied for nuclear mechanical properties, cytoskeletal stiffness, and mechanical strain-induced signaling. EM⁻/y fibroblasts exhibited similar cell sensitivity, nuclear and cytoskeletal properties compared to wild type cells under stress and strain. Interestingly, both Lmna⁻/⁻ and EM⁻/y fibroblasts had impaired mechanotransduction, characterized by attenuated expression of the mechanosensitive genes egr-1, iex-1, and txnip in response to mechanical stimulation. In addition, NF-rB signaling appeared disturbed in Lmna⁻/⁻ cells, but normal in EM⁻/y fibroblasts. The relationship between changes in cytoskeletal stiffness recently discovered in Lmna⁻/⁻ cells and nuclear mechanics under strain was explored using a computational finite elemental model. Analysis of the several models using variations in material properties and cell geometry revealed that nuclear shape, material properties of the cytoskeleton and nucleus, as well as the size and location of strain application on the cell are important parameters in determining the magnitude of stress and strain within the
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 54-55).
Subjects
Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.
MIT Department
Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Persistent DSpace Link
