Publication Date

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Committee Members

Courtney Sulentic, Ph.D. (Advisor); Nancy Bigley, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Thomas Brown, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Eric Bennett, Ph.D. (Other)

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

Small changes in antibody expression have broad impacts on human health and disease. An environmental toxicant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces profound immune suppression in animal models in an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated fashion. In a human Burkitt's lymphoma cell line (CL-01), TCDD inhibited IgG secretion and differentially impacted Ig heavy chain expression. In addition to TCDD, the AhR has several endogenous, dietary, and bacterial ligands such as 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) and indole, which are present within the human body at varied concentrations (0.30 mM- 6.64 mM). Both FICZ (100 nM) and indole (100 µM) significantly reduced IgG secretion. Overall antibody secretion is less sensitive to endogenous ligands of the AhR than TCDD, which inhibits IgG secretion in the nM concentration range. However, antibody secretion is inhibited by FICZ, suggesting a biological role of the AhR in antibody expression.

Page Count

89

Department or Program

Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology

Year Degree Awarded

2021


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Anatomy Commons

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